he shuts the windows and pulls down the curtains
locks all the doors to secure his heart (wrapped up
in a wool sweater) from moths

one- two- three- he shuts his eyes and prays for the
security children feel when they hide in closets: but
he was never one to be afraid

he whispered all his secrets into three pebbles before
he went to sleep and left them on his front steps in the
morning: in hopes someone

might pick them up and listen and cry or laugh or knock
on his door and give them back- but my only secret is that
you should expect to starve

when you live on hope-