Epigram ‘n Aphorism Samwiches

Somewhere Sealed

Somewhere Sealed

I was sealed in, or
sealed out, when I sought a view of you
in your department —
a mannequin come to life
possessing all the qualities
I lacked:
festive clothing,
a smile.
         rosy cheeks I got
         passing that mound of flat, steel autos
         by the rails balancing each day
         enroute to winter habitué
to view you in the hallways at school.

a ghost could have learned your combination.
never neared that blue, iron door to try.
it was glass that separated us.
I, sealed in or
you sealed out, but then
you didn’t view me
as I didn’t have a smile
and bright apparel
like other torsos on display.

just window shopping anyway,
I tell myself,
whenever I’m sealed in,
or out,
in memory.

1.1.23

I wanted to be nostalgic about being alone when I was young and how comforted I could feel in certain settings, and it went another way, and just ran on.