Oh, My Little Story

it is really best
if i don’t
tell what didn’t happen
until i can
find a place
in my heart for
pretend
can i have coffee
with my characters
is that what i
need to do
have them over
when i and boys
spend moments
as we know
should i offer them
a bowl of soup
or better
ask them to chop
potatoes
carrots
sit a spell
spin a tale or two
until
through
our supper
would this be better
than first
trying to imagine
a fictional world
enter minds
of cardboard figurines
a stranger
there’s my problem
i put flesh
on parchment
with only dust
in my hands
i care about
the words alone
am merely amused
by my story
this being so
how can i give
the reader a
worthy narrative
how does one
invite invisible
concepts to
dining table
couch
heart
cross legs
close eyes
deep breath
visualize a band
of guests
really i ought
to greet them
one by one
older woman first
then her young neighbor
eventually
i need to meet
girl’s best friend
must i craft her
in letters first
or eyelid pictures
then set myself
before a screen
give her bones
before
next writing class
i will need to know
have spent
time writing
these folks
lives