you died.   the world became quieter

even before the phone rang and rubbed the

walls, ceiling and the floor with graphite.

each word a layer.  what was once white,

and wood, now tarnished silver.  sound slides

on these surfaces, becomes liquid, puddle 

in that mirror.

                                                      all this so far from me.

an orange squid speeding away 

through the scrawls of a pencilled sea.