the note slides neatly
into the three inch wide
locker vents
he waits
when she opens
the door
it falls
spinning like a large
white leaf
some albino tree shedding
in autumn
the phrase in the card
is french
something easily found
at the library
something easily deduced
from years of spanish
together
from years of doing homework
together
over the phone
for the harder concepts
–it’s in french, he says
–i’m glad i don’t understand french, she says
and laughs, effortlessly dismissive
an oil slick over the surface
of water
as if he is under water
and the thick shadow
blocks the light
chokes the oxygen
and he drowns
Words and Feathers 