If I knew my life was sinking
into the soil like rain
what words would I ink
into your ears
my final signature
an echo of so many days
would I be funny
like that comedian who complimented
his wife on an ice-cream soda
that didn’t exist
or Churchill
who pronounced his boredom
and then slipped
like a mole
into the earth
Noel Coward was perfect
when he said
goodnight my darlings
I’ll see you tomorrow
but this makes me weep
and I haven’t even seen his plays
I suspect I would hold your hand
as I floated away
my mouth whispering
nothing new
I adore you.