Sergei Color

His study has a memory. In the bookshelf the is kept all his yawning;

his breath on every page of every book. The chair holds all his sadness;

the arms his tears, the back his heaving sighs. The mirror holds his smiles,

his brow lifted by its wooden frame. The desk is keeping secrets;

held down by the paperweight, kept bright by the lamp. His pen sits quiet,

feeling heavy with the weight of knowing who he loves,

who he needs to feel safe.

The coat rack is carrying the largest load of all.

On his arm hangs the coat that leaves the study.

The coat is a traveler. He knows what nothing in the study knows.

He alone stood watching and waiting for the sled.

In his pocket the blossoms lie dying.

On his lapel only a faint memory of lily and rose.

He alone has touched her.

He alone to hold her.

There he hangs with solemn knowledge.

The others wait to hear, but live to tell.

They will tell L---- who he is,

but the coat alone knows who he is to be.