---

Amy Soppet

What Happens

the solid clang of fact against heart
woke me up last night
although he didn't hear it
and kept on sleeping

such a leaden, mistakable sound
like the sweat won pound of a
railroad spike
in a black and white movie about men
and the livelong day

so I woke
clear through
vaguely terrified and my breathing a happy surprise
and I didn't try to fool myself that it was
the breadsticks and hummus that did me in

I know it really was me
clanging out
thought sick and know hungry
brave starved so badly.