If he truly believed in angels
they would appear, I said in a dream
(of whom I spoke I can’t recall)

Then I remember disintegrating
into hot tears as I realized
that I also spoke of myself

And in that wild, greedy moment
I challenged an angel to appear
as I cowered in a darkened closet

Full of longing and terror, I endured
the suspense of that great What If
– relieved the angel did not answer.