What We Both Want to Know
by
Radiance Angelina Petro

Death stood in my bedroom door.
“Teach me,” he said, “why
can’t I hear the birds?”

“Why can’t I hear your footsteps?”
I said. He said: “Why can’t I feel
the wind?”

I said: “How is it you have the universe
stitched in your robe?” He said: “Can you
really see your breath in the winter?”

I said: “Enough questions. Come to bed
and we can teach each other what we both
want to know.”