September 25, 2009
Curtains - Ruth Stone Putting up new curtains, other windows intrude. As though it is that first winter in Cambridge when you and I had just moved in. Now cold borscht alone in a bare kitchen. What does it mean if I say this years later? Listen, last night I am on a crying jag with my landlord, Mr. Tempesta. I sneaked in two cats. He screams NO PETS! NO PETS! I become my Aunt Virginia, proud but weak in the head. I remember Anna Magnani. I throw a few books. I shout. He wipes his eyes and opens his hands. OK OK keep the dirty animals but no nails in the walls. We cry together. I am so nervous, he says. I want to dig you up and say, look, it’s like the time, remember, when I ran into our living room naked to get rid of that fire inspector. See what you miss by being dead? (Photo, Northern Chili or Southern Bolivia….2006)

Curtains - Ruth Stone



Putting up new curtains,

other windows intrude.

As though it is that first winter in Cambridge

when you and I had just moved in.

Now cold borscht alone in a bare kitchen.

What does it mean if I say this years later?



Listen, last night

I am on a crying jag

with my landlord, Mr. Tempesta.

I sneaked in two cats.

He screams NO PETS! NO PETS!

I become my Aunt Virginia,

proud but weak in the head.

I remember Anna Magnani.

I throw a few books. I shout.

He wipes his eyes and opens his hands.

OK OK keep the dirty animals

but no nails in the walls.

We cry together.

I am so nervous, he says.



I want to dig you up and say, look,

it’s like the time, remember,

when I ran into our living room naked

to get rid of that fire inspector.

See what you miss by being dead?



(Photo, Northern Chili or Southern Bolivia….2006)