Marge Piercy

  They came and they went

Am I crazy? Am I weird
that I remember every
cat in my life but forget
a number of lovers?

But the cats were loving
faithful, more than I can
say about half the men
and women who touched me.                                    

whom I touched. Real
connections have built
a place in my brain, but
so many left nothing

just a little smear, just
a pimple of remembrance.
So often we bump against
each other as if by

accident, Excuse me
to get to a seat. Perhaps
we could have been
friends –not one night

collisions. My life is
littered with them like
bodies of dead ants
dry and disposable.

Marge Piercy has published 20 poetry collections, most recently, ON THE WAY OUT, TURN OFF THE LIGHT [Knopf]; 17 novels including SEX WARS. PM Press reissued VIDA, DANCE THE EAGLE TO SLEEP; they brought out short stories THE COST OF LUNCH, ETC and MY BODY, MY LIFE [essays, poems]. She has read at over 575 venues here and abroad.