You have trained me
to listen for tidy worlds
inside the messes
like this morning
my hot rollers
all over the floor
I hear you naming them
clusters of fuzzy rollers
our neighbours on the island
the Wagners and the Bakers
and the Beggs with five small rollers
for each kid
you ask me for pennies
at which point I take off my coat
and wait
while you litter
the floor with coins
carefully arranging them
wobbly clumps
of all the people you know.