for my Catherine
dipped in wine
tips calloused from
song
steel strings
the B always
flat
too flat until the
capo brings it
good enough for jazz
to where we are
now
a middle age timbre
tenor
no, baritone
and your laugh
that laugh that always
reminds
me of seventeen and
twenty and even but
not
all the years between
Tonight
tonight
I wish you were
here
to tell me that
Yes
I have been stupid but
Yes
it is the only way to
be, my beautiful cat-face
then I might sleep
finally
to the Billie
notes of your
voice
and the harmony
I sing
that only ever
fits
with you
c.sdmrogers 2008