and I know full well you won’t be there you won’t be in the street in the hum that buzzes from the arc lamps at night nor in the gesture of selecting from the menu nor in the smile that lightens people packed into the subway
nor in the borrowed books nor in the see-you-tomorrow you won’t be in my dreams in my word’s first destination (nor will you be in a telephone number)
or in the color of a pair of gloves or a blouse I’ll get angry, love, without it being on account of you (and I’ll buy chocolates but not for you)
I’ll stop at the corner you’ll never come to and I’ll say the words that are said and I’ll eat the things that are eaten and I’ll dream the dreams that are dreamed
and I know full well you won’t be there nor here inside in the prison where I still hold you nor there outside in this river of streets and bridges
you won’t be there (at all) you won’t even be a memory and when I think of you I’ll be thinking th a thought that’s obscurely trying to recall you