In the Habit of Collecting Medals
I'm lining them up for others:Balancing them on
My weak winter skin.
Framing my geegaw shamble
Of thin tin knick knack,
Curio, brick-a-brack,
Lazy trinket and frippery.
For acts of unbrave bravery.
While always
Cultivating a charming,
Casual but uncalm fret,
About my neck.
Some copper is green
But that's part of the honesty.
And doesn’t it complement
My veins so…
This one is foreign, see?
Have I told you that I used to
Play rugby with boys?
My dead desiderata.
April 2007