Word for/ Word

Michael Broder

Epigrams

It is a struggle to keep from swallowing
what slides down my throat too soon
half chewed, half dissolved
too early taken in my mouth
too quickly, avidly, with too little thought
too whole to wholly digest.

I forget my own place
and open the book
to where you have placed
your mark.

There’s stuff in all of these boxes
nothing is left for me.