no longer fresh
or young
Stanzie sinks into the slip-covered recliner
in the corner
children chanting & the bonfire
but it is time to sleep
no bears out tonight
no dead trees
catching embers & sprouting off,
curling shingles on the shell of a guesthouse
mid-century modern hoop skirt lamps
Depression-era glass & brown linoleum
fudge that won't set
Oolong tea
no matter
that the vase is chipped,
the jewels plastic
no matter
that the kiss
an approximation only,
miniature Niagara Falls teacup handle cracked
against the register
no matter
no how
no longer hers,
this place
no longer part of space
how did it happen;
how did she
become air
