This conspiracy
of words

we share with one another

the music of which
can be heard
only by angels

is a secret language

exchanged in the intimacy between tongues

never mindful of pretenses
or other tenses
but is always here
always now

distilling meaning and time
sense and rhyme

shrinking distances

creating worlds
where there are no strangers

there aren't even any friends

there is only you and me
alone in this room
sharing

this conspiracy
of words.

7-1-99