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...

STOP MY EARS

in the middle of the night
my sleep is disturbed
by wreckage

I get up, dress
go salvaging in my room
I pick up a bit of rope
some jewels
a man's right shoe

there
underneath the chair piled with clothes
a little hand
I hear an infant cry

what do I do with this?
how can I ever sleep now?

wrapped again in blankets
I curl up
squeeze eyes shut
stop my ears
with the jewels of a stranger