We come to each other br exactly at the center, br the spine of ample fire, and suffer br to be revised. br Stay with me. br br Weren't we promised br the sheer flame, bright change br so clean even our clothes wouldn't smell of smoke, br not one hair of our heads would be singed? br Yet, just now, didn't the tongues slip br loose and hot about my neck? br Stay close now. br br The sound is like a rustling coming from chambers. br someone sifting through thousands br of pages, the histories of rapture, br looking for a happy ending. br The sound is like the sea, br which is very far away. br Are you scared? br br There are many things br which are far from us now. br Try to recall a few of them: br the iron in the bath water br that made you taste of rust. br The rabbit screaming in the night, br its innards strewn br br on the stoop like prophesy. br Can you hear me? Say something. br Tell me what you remember of our life. br The torn dress you threw away, br a piece of which I rescued and used as a scarf. br Are you still with me? Say something.