Vanity

if i had one hundred stenographers,

i would dictate poems to them all day long

and test their speed and accuracy in weekly check-ups.

if i had one hundred stenographers,

i would give them each a squeaking, rickety typewriter.

i would say only this to them:

please record every sound in this room,

and watch them try to catch the rain.

if i had one hundred stenographers,

i would make them only record the unsaid,

the body currents.

They would never lie.

if i had one hundred stenographers,

i would have one for each muscle twitch.

i would know what i say in my sleep.

i would never forget.