4588. WHEN THINGS WERE NEW

WHEN THINGS WERE NEW

(like Abraham and Isaac Blue)

My friend, at the oasis, smiled back at the scene,

saying, 'When things were new everything was as

one. Can you understand the matter?' I'd been up

for four days already, thinking myself blue.

'Nothing to make a stink over,' I replied.

-

Ten dollars for a new army. Five bucks for a new

front gloat. Two old bucks for a new Mother

Theresa. It's already so over it's over. And

then no one cares at all. No one:

-

Not the troopmaster, not the constable, not

the bossman or the drifter. Not the streetgirl

walking her humble abode, not the things

you'd think about no more.

-

I went with my father, to the lake.

He said his name was Mr. Stephens.

I was so scared I could hardly breath.

he pulled out a knife and nodded.

I took a deep breath, and laid

myself down to die.

-

Inscrutable as always, that Mr. Stephens.