sixteen

He liked her because of her house, bright cool with four large windows facing the sea and beyond that a complete view of the city.

-Gabriel Garcia Marquez

viewing you, now, backlit with

thick raining red curtains

that grandfather portrait like a mirror

on its side

i've thought of falling open as you slept close

on occasion, the door, a good parting one

i'd mumble a mouth filled good morning from

the other side, elastic stretched horizon

fled the house, i'd heard

when the window was a flat blue square

heard, too, you imitate a conch shell

from under the sheets

louder than the waves at my feet

pacing around the kitchen island

later than was usual to sleep,

a comic leg dangles in through the doorway