I walked your stairs up  off
snowy street     you greeted me
I’ve got something    you

don’t have      besides     I remember
the baby’s birth your sister crying red
tears I felt nothing in that hospital only

a month before we said for good–  I must
have realized I was not in love I am not part
of this family in the annex chatter

what a joy   this new life
screaming

(originally published in Datura, Fall 2019)