let me say first of all it was a mistake to sleep with you
because now I have nothing to think about when I lie in bed at night
what's left? a glass of room temperature water with some white paint that won't come off
condom wrappers, but then there always are

in the sounds of the buses and in the faint fog delayed seven o'clock light
a quick and toothy kiss
having watched for so long, dreamt of hitting it out of the ball park
it wasn't much

but let me say I don't regret having slept with you
as my eyes wander the cracks in the ceiling outlining
the last in a long line of experiments, a collection of skewed data
or the name on everyone's lips... I jump at every noise: phone, footstep, cough

love seems a ridiculous conceit
the one thing I have on me is my ridiculous conceits

Quote from Ezra Pound, Canto XC