The World Is Larger Than My Suffering (But Not Much)
by Barrett Warner
You could drive to the end of me
then get out and walk the rest of the way.
It’s a long walk, but totally do-able.
Ten miles past all the husbands and mistakes,
and the anger I feel about my poor tooth.
No one wants my advice, they only want me to care.
A bronze obelisk commemorates
the location where my suffering ceases to be.
It was first discovered in 1967.
I visit often to whisk water and scrub out
graffiti hearts and initials.
A squat limestone wall protects vandals
from tumbling down the cliff into rocky seas.
To be honest I’ve never swam
in the mighty roll and crack and crash.
The only thing I do with saltwater is gargle.