THE SHADE
by Wesli Court
How could I know that such a thing exists?
Although the bathroom seemed extremely cold,
I couldn’t know the boy had slit his wrists
and bled to death in the bath. No one had told
the story to me, for I was a visitor.
Although the bathroom seemed extremely cold,
I had to use it. I’d stand in the corridor
and stretch to switch the light on, then slide in
shivering, for I was a visitor
in Louisville that winter. I’d glide in
as though on a sheet of ice, do what I must,
then stretch to switch the light off. I’d slide in
and out as fast as possible, adjust
to a shade I never saw, that was always there,
as though on a sheet of ice. Do what I must,
I did, and told my friends. I saw them stare —
they’d known about the shade that was always there!
How could I know that such a thing exists?
I couldn’t know the boy had slit his wrists.
Copyright © 2009 by Wesli Court.