Clayton

1.

Old Clayton, the inspector of

windows, begins each week with

tuesday, stepping in a circle

near Dante's dark wood.  He keeps

his Buddha in a closet, afraid to

worship:  he visits funeral parlors,

flights away the sun with plastic

umbrellas.

2.

His work is done, finished, completed

in the park near a bench he made, near

a street sign he remembered.  In a small

town in Illinois, young Clayton smiles,

watching the naked lovers.