Elegy for the Living Patriarchs

she said, he’s angry at you, and he’s building machinery

.
he said, there is no twin

.
She did not say, I have stolen the key to your locked door
.

he said, there is no twin, your dream was only an empty 
pond surrounded by dirt
.

she said, I’d like to see what’s beyond that door
.

he did not say, in a nameless country he can do no harm, 
all the pictures of him are underwater
.

she said, my twin is taller, one side of his head is flat, 
he has ugly hands and he says his name is Michael 
.

he said, go to sleep now
.


     a cup of pennies from 1955
     the sound of a dog trapped in a fence
     her half-chewed crayons
     a bundle of rusted keys that ring like a bell
     buttons from shirts his belly outgrew
     a gold locket with the initial “C” scratched off
     various muted colors trapped in a jar
     the sound of dog trapped