as though it doesn't matter what is real br br i " . . . something almost . . . with asking." br —Brenda HillmanI br br According to their signs we're in the country br Far off things are being put on the record br Where it may not matter to anyone br If the shadows hide themselves behind rain br The canal opening below the sky br Daytime moving in swirls the painted colors br Or the idea wind sometimes stops and starts br What we might more properly call nostalgia br br If we wanted to we could follow later br Without giving up his place in the world br A color postcard folded in our pockets br The light informing us it's afternoon br When what we feel is we remember feeling br Not long ago it was the time beforebr br G.E.