9 table settings

                            candle-flame
someone gasps behind
red fingers

                            courtly guests
hang out the window
killing time

                           tidals wave
without a drop of
rain or wine

                           on a fork
in her river slide
a few fish

                           below the
salt someone’s career
sounds like glass

                           no time to
duel with crumbs and
cutlery

                            tonight melts
this room in grief-light
oh not now

                           in spite of
tablescape I am
not my hand

finally
conscience is silent
as a plate

—Dorothea Tanning