Networking

I can't hang out at the water
cooler when I arrive
planning when to arrive
hoping to avoid
sudden solemn eyes.

You used to tell me
"It's the most important place to be."
and, since, our social networking
silently constructed online
only Facebook tells me that
you're doing fine.

It scares me.
I can't hang out at the water
cooler, since I made you go away.

Last Minute Requests

Send me something
just a little.
overnight mail for an
antique fiddle.

what were you doing?
oh, were you planning?
Please by Tuesday for my
antique fiddle.

None more in storage?
what shall we do.
I need this Monday
early Sunday, mail on Friday.

Persian wood, bamboo cover
tongue of swallow, toe of beaver
make me a new
antique fiddle.

must be perfect
must be clean.
must be a legend
of all antique fiddles.

gypsies found it
swept from Moroccan desert
sweat from Mercury
moistens the bow
Icelandic volcanic stone
was crafted as a case
strings now set
from tails of buffalo.
music accompanied visions of great
and Black Elk, greater still
and played softly to passing saints
the last our mother, Theresa

and since it has only been discovered
in overnight mail for an
antique fiddle.