(Some evenings)

Some evenings, he would hide his face in his hands
            
              for a few seconds —


then let go of his held breath

                          & lift his head again, his eyes bereaved

of light.


              What room, face, gaze haunted him?


& where you are, friend, in


              Kansas

              Utah

              Rhode Island 

              Tennessee

what haunts you? What is it
you choke inside your palms?


Have you told someone? Have you? Will you?