Blue Ink

Blue ink is friendlier than black,

more feminine. You can sign the papers

and still believe

it’s not quite final.

You can conjecture in blue ink,

and write a check for more than you have.

People will understand.

Some days the lake is blue enough

to be bottled, or injected

directly into a pen,

though as the words dry

they disappear, letter by letter,

sparing you

serious embarrassment.