-a moving space-

the closet’s filled with emptiness.

It’s hung clothing removed.

the closet was empty to begin with.

matters become it by being empty. then

the clothing's unhinged, unhooked, lifted from a pole

running wall to wall and even relieved
of its belongings the pole sags in the middle.

things are draped on the couch, packed into satchels,

layered on the backseat like an abstract atrocity

readied for transport.

matters of coats, sweaters, fleeces of blue

and of grey,—

slacks, jeans and shirts on wire hangers

build high to collapse from the top of their heap
to the floor of the waiting transporter.

matters slip to collective comatose inside an equal

but separate emptiness in a closet a full bridge away;—

exhumed from one, resurrected to another
whose dark occupation is to have its own weight

and occupy its own space;——

matters in need of an arm or a foot

or a leg or a head,—

or a back fraught with cold,

a working zipper;—

a set of tired shoulders, or a neck, or decision.

                                Fall River / Swansea / 5/8/12