How could I not hope
when that was all there was–
at worst or best
(so fine a line)
I ever after knew
that good wasn’t
if I was?

Such a seller’s market
no one bought,
though everyone
looked and looked,
until things underground
rose up and militated.

It took such a long time
to be over,
and then it was.
Everyone was pretty
much undone
and I was way past
and hardly
and was.