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20 [I dreaded that first Robin, so] in snow, i was redundant, dimple to the blank plain. raccoons circled me wide. The deer shied, every one. i was alone, but a trained bear cultivates some love of its bells, and i danced, too— editing my body to partner singular— this precision holds the leg when the will fails—i forgot all his forgots, and was the clean thing once more. but the earth forgot me, too, and kept turning, and spring insinuated so much—the little creek swelled, rushes pricked out, and everywhere daffodils swished their skirts, just like he said they would. my gown, once so crystal, rolled down my body in fat tears, leaving me obvious. Hold still, i cried, but the robin’s breast blared so red— it’s a familar sting, memory, new blooming to full blown—his face shuffling before my eyes again, forgetting my forgetting his forgot. ...

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