Superintendent

When I burglarized my business,

I stole my briefcase

and embezzled my own story.

I have insurance on my own loss,

for it will be

tremendous.

I paid fully for my grave

and a curse to top it off.

History attests the obvious:

I own the lost.

(Source: Conscience Letter 285)

After I Have Done Realizing

Home is foolish

its citizens uncontrollable,

these human specimens

depriving their need for rest

and beauty.

Despite my right,

I am happy to not return,

happy to turn to other nations

where sometimes

you and I feel what was

and is.

(Source: Conscience Letter 142)

Family Service Center

Gal    galvanized

suitable

stainless

coppery bronze

Purchase roadside

or commercial    Now

(return in pieces)

An atlas of supply

belongs to you

sirs

Your coin

and thank you

(Source: Unnumbered Conscience Letter, Dated 6 March 1974)

Museum of the Poor

I’ve been to the forest–

and truly, I took the straight way home.

No matter.

I’ve been poor most of the time.

When she reads this letter

I will be back in jail.

I hope she will know

how I’ve gone to pieces

been down this hard hill

all to see her at home.

From cell to cell

I go: I am one of you,

I know.

(Source: Conscience Letter 319)

To Whom I May Love

If not pure and rainbowed, what?

Love’s havoc

is a forest

of miserable

desperate things.

No signs back to

normal life.

The time: dateless.

The time: give up.

It concerns you, too.

(Source: Conscience Letter 331)

The Contents of This Mailer

A guess a wedding a honeymoon an ex

A souvenir of my cleavage when it was new and good

The people you suspected and never found

A telegram that said DON’T WORRY STOP ALL IS FORGIVEN STOP

A letter that just said Stop stop stop

That guard outside Gallup who told me I was hot who couldn’t resist

who wrapped up paper towels and made a gag

The anniversary of my exit

(Source: Conscience Letter 276(?))

from September 27

About 20 yr ago

my husband + I took a vacation

This we pick up

my husband passed away 15 yr ago 49

having two heart attack

I lost 48,000   my home    my youngest son cut and beaten

I have had nothing but Bad Luck

I am sending this back

hoping the curse will leave

a widow with nothing but heartbreak

Anne

Houston, Texas

(Source: Conscience Letter 272, untreated)

My Foolishness

In the late hours of an April afternoon

at the shop across from the hospital

I am waiting for an unlucky story to finish

They will tell me at last

what curse I suffer

I hope once more to see them

Italy     my daughter    the Painted Desert

the future greeting me with

time for my foolishness

(Source: Conscience Letter 405)

Place

What passed

in year since—

now             at last

now      is the time

I resist taking you

a piece of you

You belong

where you belong

and me

I go back to my kind

(Source: Conscience Letter 290)

Pull the Loose Wire

I don’t think I need anything

that won’t work:

my radio

the van we took to Vegas

the telephone.

These won’t send you back

to me.  No,

no returning.

This first morning

is the last of me.

(Source: Conscience Letter 266)