Barter

My kingdom for a shower. My kingdom for an ordinary piece of fruit. My kingdom for a key, but not the key to an apartment     or a car or anyone’s heart —or maybe a car a car     a carriage that might lift. My kingdom for the hunger. My kingdom for a muzzle. My kingdom for a David star. My kingdom for an egg. My kingdom for two Ruths, one for past & one for future. My kingdom for the cat. Happiness lasts no more than 26 days in a row. Then take a break. Can’t call it quitting if I always mean to go back : that goes for the good : that goes for the bad.       My kingdom for a lover who doesn’t need me. Or my kingdom for you, I guess. If I must. My kingdom for a smile, for a knife, for a raincoat and a hairbrush and a pen.     I’m going to make some strokes, some cuts. My kingdom for a cloth to cover the mirrors. My kingdom for a book that never ends. My kingdom for a tissue a tissue.

      I will not come to level the teaspoon for you.