the nines

a list. counted by a postbox. not crossed off.

  1. the dock light. nine blinks, then a pause.
  2. tally marks in the letter room doorframe. postbox height.
  3. nine pin shadows under the clip lamp. all leaning left.
  4. the overpass hum drops a note at nine past.
  5. nine racks to the back wall of the depot. i counted twice.
  6. rain off the door patch, ticks in pairs. nine pairs, then it waits.
  7. wheel turns from the dock to the post box: ninety nine. close enough.
  8. nine candles at the cat shrine. the cat sits on the tenth spot.
  9. the radio lags the real rain by about nine drips.

if you know who taught everything in here to stop at nine, post a letter. i keep all of them.

10. a cobweb strand in the corner, wet, like a string nobody pinned. or a wren. still counting.