Aubade 5

Henry emeritus, serious and sotto

in his slacks and topcoat,

reciting verbatim the OED.

Henry cocooned in wood-walled

academia, indifferent to the pleasures

of the outside world.

What kind of animal cultivates loneliness?

She is not with me and you are not with me.

I sleep in the cool of the day

and read the paper when I have the time.

Last night I dreamed of an ancient pier,

bleached white from the endless sun.

Threadbare and wayward,

he is stalking the shoreline.

Henry at the start of the month,

with this month being the beginning,

the beginning of the year.

I am alone to turn off the lights.