I am going to keep being braver than men

His eyes the black din from in

a naked night window

Mine the dopey open of

the fishbowl living rooms of America

Five Years

I.

11 am, I fill a bowl with water, intending to soak some beans

I am out of beans

I leave the bowl of water on the counter. 

1 pm, the water is shut off

city maintenance, until 8 pm

no warning from the landlord.

3 pm, the water filter is empty. I’m so thirsty.

There’s a bowl of water on my counter

II.

At the store, a bar of handmade soap is on sale

I need more soap, but not urgently

I stand in the aisle and think for too long. too long.

too long. what’s wrong with me?

I buy the soap

I don’t need a bag, thank you. 

I put the soap in my purse.

At the laundromat, I accidentally touch something sticky

the soap dispenser in the bathroom is empty.

There’s a bar of soap in my purse