Sometimes I worry

about how to move the books I have up north

down south

When I begin to feel uncomfortable

in my relationship,

it is the books that come up,

shelf upon shelf

of necessary writing

Each time I take the night train

down there,

to stay a few months away

from the relationship,

I also send a few heavy packages

with books

in the mail

Thery're too heavy

to add to my suitcase or backpack,

but expensive through the Post Office,

so I can send but a few boxes each time

In this way I distinguish

between books of great importance

and others of less

In this way, also,

I leave less and less books up north

in the relationship,

waiting to be restored

to my single southern life

I seldom fully realize

that I will be dead and incinerated

well before all the books will be converged

in the South