December 5

By Amy Lipman

I

Nurse, my dreams
End on ladders in the dark

Bring bandages
Temples were burned

II.

I called for you to come home
Until my voice turned into the roof

III.

If I didn’t know you
I’d think you were lovely
I’d think you were what children want out of snow
A home and a man to make love to without
Giving up hope or
Removing their clothes