The Renaissance

I said hello. Then you said you said

hello. In this way, we were touching touching

clouds. Such mannerisms endured throughout

the sixteenth century, when bread was scarce, words

for clouds scarcer. Of course we were younger

then, when all the lakes we wanted belonged

to the aristocracy, so we swam in nothing

but our suffering. As they do, centuries passed.

We kept thinking there were only so many ways

to light a fire. Now, it’s just as likely you’ll call

after a Sunday dip. Usual, you map the passing time

in the shape of a cumulonimbus. I say how quiet quiet

can be when your face is this close to the painting.