good to hear from you

your poetry is better
she says
when something tragic
happens to you.
when you fall off
a roof, or get
bit by a snake,
or get a flat tire.
when you are fat
and happy, content
like a cat on the sill
watching birds
in the trees.
your stuff stinks.
it's dry and empty,
boring and lifeless.
I need to put a mirror
over some of them
to see if there is
any life in there,
she says.
it's good to here
from you too, you
write back. it reminds
me of why we
aren't together,
although the poetry
was much better
when you were
around, i'll give
you that.