Performed by Val Cole

POEM:

We met on Zoom at a workshop.

That’s not quite true. I only know

your first name. One square down

and two squares over, your lighting

not that great. I don’t think it’s on

purpose, like in A Streetcar Named

Desire, but it does add mystery

as you sit at your kitchen table,

stainless steel fridge behind you.

I wonder what you are longing for,

where you live, within driving

distance or near an airport. I heard

you mention a husband which is

perfectly understandable, since I

have a perfectly good spouse as well,

but we both know fate is powerful,

more ineffable than anything, and

passion a terrific excuse, and here

we are rather close, in a way,

both too shy to send a personal

message, but we will meet again

soon, at the next session, and maybe

then our squares will be adjacent.