Precarious things The hiccups of the computer about to turn itself off the three-story cat tree leaning on the wall the hangers perched on the cat tree without any clothing the clothing piled on the dresser spilling over the sides— The camel, the polar bear, the three little wolves stuffed peaceable kingdom, in a pile sliding off the edge of the embroidered chair— Always the heaviness in the blank spots, more than the actual weight— The triptych of photos, now a diptych after the fall the pictures of us all together at the big oak table so many knife cuts from when we held court in the kitchen, with thundering applause for the cooks— The 200 year old oak tree where we said our vows, fallen now us still here—
michelle lerner
19