cashed in for laundry quarters.
       Gather nesting twigs for this fine house

and run to Northumberland (your grocery store)
       for luncheon meats, chocolate milk,

reliving life as if what is happening
       inside is not important, the dog

looking at you askew, chewing up
       the geraniums ‑ he knows better.

Many people, you tell him, walk
       on a broken toe for months.