Cabochon

Nick Laird

She still has some cousins in Leitrim, 

 the tall nurse broadcasting our secret, 

 and bright eyes bright as trinkets（小玩意儿） 

 when her pink nail taps the screen. 

 Between the coda and the dipped head 

 a flicker in the quadrant's grain 

 steadies to a light bobbing 

 rhythmically, unhindered（不受阻碍的） ... 

We stand before the elevator's 

 mirror now like any other passengers 

 disembarking at the gate, late, 

 a silent weight of uncut gems 

 stitched meticulously in the hems 

 of your winter coat, my leather case.