There was a time when the snap

Of a carabiner brought pure delight,

When I would have gladly

Jammed a fist into a crevice,

Rejoiced at my bloody knuckles.

Now my heart quickens at a passage,

A word, a riff, a stanza, a viola

Echoing the voice of its sweeter mate,

Or a story of a man who breaks into his

Neighbor's house in the dead of night,

Rifling his friend's pant pockets

For the wallet which he knows is there,

Later returning the money, secretly,

When his fortunes are rejoined.