Under this sink a tree

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Under this sink a tree

By Simon Perchik

Under this sink a tree
needs tightening, both wrenches
and leaf by leaf another leak

more sweat, more compost
weakens their hold, erases
the day before till they weep
on my hands, on these tools
squeezing even their hearts dry

--it's not by accident
the trap was hid
and under this drain what's caught
let go the way every Fall
still tightens and I work my head in
--fixing leaks is a job

for someone no longer in love
who knows the breaking point
can work the connectors, the unions
the fittings, whose hands

now weigh almost nothing, who can
without all over again
just turn, turn and turn
till the tears suddenly stop breathing.