“He didn’t invite me to the wedding.

Am I some kind of ghost? A few roses

blown open. People kept trooping back

and forth in downpour to view

the thorny stalks. I saw the photos.

Am I shameful? Even from far away

you can tell someone’s age by how her body

moves. What bird by the steadiness

of its wings. Some trees are simply

more picturesque. Some days

I’m a regret machine. Why

are children always running, is there

so very much to get to? You terrify

the moments. You waste them like this.

And behind walls doors and screens,

everyone you’ve ever lost

is repeating marriage vows.”