—after van Gogh, ‘Self Portrait with Pipe,’ 1886

each of us carries behind
a long brown sack cinched
tight filled with regret
for whatever we can’t abide

when the burden becomes
too large to suffer
lay it in the road kick it
in the tenderest part make it
cry in pain

then fasten your tie
about your neck light
your pipe comb your hair
& sit very still for
as long as you can bear