SISTER CHABLIS

Change colors until your jacket’s out at sleeves. Fold it for another town’s
seasons. The escaped almanac says October will ignite some days, weave
its mulch, come down as a torn quilt. This almanac with dates scratched
out, useful still. Ghosts just are their clothes. Certain planets, beady-eyed,
elliptical, tuck in as for second supper. Heavens their table. Do not forgive
all that I say, but choose. A setting or outer atmosphere. Some ways the
land lies please. Or it is cussed hardheadedness. We jump feet-first into
rivulets. Only a little. It hurts. When the rooster crows, alone you toss and
turn. The bag man, says the inky actor in voiceover. As if that made sense,
dawn clears the counters.