if i were to tell you
everything
bare twisted branches
against a graying sky
if i were to tell you
dreams thick
with familiar strangers
one of them always you
a few birch leaves
cling yellow to the tree
an empty red mailbox
a white black-tailed cat
the dog coughing
pawing at her mouth
her enlarged heart
still beating
this to say
i could not tell you
everything even
in silence
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