Spotters

You will begin to be able to spot them
almost as if they are wearing a spot

A certain quality
of panic

Distilled into thimble
placed on the tongue
and carried
from first alarm
to the recasting of bed sheets
avoiding spillage

But they still
talk fine
enough

Hellohowareyouhellohow
areyouhellogoodmorning
thankyouforcallinggood
morningthankyouforcalling
goodmorninggoodgood
fine, thanks, i’ve been worse

You will begin to be able to spot them
as if the spot for them
was won

Hard by a certain kind
of quiet violence

A gesture in the eyes
suggestion in the shoulders
that the light in the room
should not think of them
as objects from which to shine
but figures recasting what is shone

But they get
along well
enough

twoticketspleasewhiskeyanddry
yourplaceormineokaytodrivetwo
sugarsphoneonsilentsorryjusta
littletiredi’malrightareyoualright
yes, fine, i’ve been worse

You will begin to be able to spot them
till they begin
to spot you first