Approximating the certain
disturbance of the given, several people

are in their lives in a room on Bay Shore.
There's a vase with flowers.

And if one should call the vase
cut crystal
               and the flowers spring tulip,

must one then wonder
at the way the drapes
are more gray than taupe and drawn?

And then if several should, with one voice,
        turn
saying We are alone, should one

remark the chairs
are bleached wood

and one pulled back against the far wall?