READING HARDY

Reading poems
of fate and pessimism
forgiving myself
for the place mats
of topical uncertainties
as a visiting relative
and guest
suddenly emerges
from her announced taxi call
asking for strawberries
and hot milk
night snow freezes her in
mumbling nights of memory
from a family album
in front of the lamp
our words would have been
in a cover of my latest book
suddenly eyeing
a bear outside on the field
and locking the door.