THE MUSE
You owe me. Pay up. According to my accounts, you have...

CASUAL FRIEND
Send lies to the people listed below....

THE AWARDS COMMITTEE
This is to notify you that--but what's the use?...

THE WISE
The world could fall to pieces with no notice....

UNCLE AL
A chicken is a touchy creature....

THE OTHERS
Here where we live the lines are down and the surprises build into snowbanks...

DANNY
Dusty Clinton Township kids making paper roosters and snowball...

SAMUEL RENSBERGER
I am your grandfather's grandfather and through my wakeless sleep I dream...

OLD NEIGHBOR
East across low muddy fields and behind the screening trees you can see...

THE WORM COUNCIL
We call your attention to worms. Though sweeping ice age disaster...

THE HERON
I flew in down by the round deep pond behind your house...

WITNESS
I saw the largest moon ever rise huge bright yellow, sailing where it cared to...

Dear Eric,

Dusty Clinton Township kids making paper roosters and snowballs, 
showing each other the moves of chess . . . I had a two-year jump 
on you in everything. Much later, after I was filled with the Spirit 
and began to testify, we had less to teach each other. I was 
swallowed up in marvels and taken on the edge of glory.
	
I think of us that time we went out in your father's car . . . 
raising high trails of dust; we battered the back roads, arguing 
miracles of the Holy Ghost. You would not learn from my quick belief.
	
O, Eric, I had a high, pure falling when the Spirit left me and 
I felt mortally fooled. What to do now that two years running 
after God was dust and ashes? Waiting for a revelation, I 
studied rope--smiling, remembering (years and years ago) 
our hands racing towards some slender knot . . . sheepshank, 
halfhitches, hangman's noose. I thought how a taut line points 
towards God.
					
Danny


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