To Compare III

The unexpected

intervals in his tone

converged into

another type of image,

a switch from the voice

of someone into

the lower, clearer voice

of someone’s translator.

In college, Saskia said

a group of psychologists

had asked people to spit

into a cup of water,

and drink. Nobody would.

But it came out of

your own body, she said.

We still wouldn’t

without switching tongue

and after, utter everything

as only understanding—

the white, burdened air

of someone hard-working

for another way to feel.