the correspondence

between letters
he fingers the tiny ridges
traces the small depressions
of each postmark on the buff envelopes

inside:

"to..."
"from..."
"yours..."
"with / in
/
i am..."



between letters
he sees small gaps
notes the matted fibres
the warp and weft of creamy paper

marked:

"when..."
"for..."
"if..."
"but / how
/
may we..."



between letters
he reads other, older missives
addressed "to whom... and "it has.. .."
softly tugs the knotted red ribbon packages


hefts their welcome weight



they fuck with their eyes open like books
amid cries of "author! Author!.."