In the stories I return to, people love each other

indirectly. Offering coins, their moonlit

faces. Not receiving too much credit.

Like the man at work today who answered

“How are you?” with “Blessed.” I thought,

that’s not an answer to the question.

Afterward, I spent the day remembering:

I’m alive and breathing, drinking tea

with cinnamon. All day that was beautiful.

Later afternoon, the crew team spuming

wings of mist beyond me on the Mississippi,

each man’s stroke and strain of back

a promise to his boat-fellows, a steady line

to shore. Someone else can speak about

the heart of love. I’ll keep its faithful

offerings. Blooming sky this evening,

and footsteps at the door.