D O C U M E N T

remington urged me to please make it short
a lucid and fluid, but reserved report
--she hasn't much time for things of this sort

no, she hasn't much care for wording like this
and to think otherwise, one would be remiss,
so keeping it cold and sincere, like the Swiss
I'll try to be brief, and not reminisce...

cold like December
(though linked to September
by bonds that I dare not recall)
cold like December, I do well to remember
in March how we walked down the hall
while the me you were hating walked on, dissipating
but we went and we spoke not at all
and the I that I was started steadily fading
to a shallower self, detached and degrading
without much to hold to save the taste of the tears
which was frail consolation when faced with my fears
(and the length of four days when compared to four years)

remington's orders: say what need be said
then leave it alone and go back to bed
she hasn't the time for what troubles your head
stop playing this game, her knights took your rooks
now examine it closely, it's worse than it looks
your king is in checkmate -- turn back to your books

thus cold and sincere
i speak, as if ice
[trade a trite metaphor
for a clever device]