... (xvii)

I must be weeping on my skin
--rolling my eyes in my pocket
I threw them in as I was leaving
--it pays to be prepared.

So I should toss them between the branches
and set them on the table
so I should be careful when doing the laundry
and not run them through the dryer

--I wipe them down
when I remember to clean them
and it's been two weeks, nearly
since I've left them by the napkins.

--but it's hard to hold onto
something so useless.