In the garage’s darkest corner I’ve created a cemetery,

Silent and still as any other, veiled in cobwebs of chagrin.

A boneyard of waylaid yard-sale secondhand optimism.

Unopened bottle of vermouth. I’ll learn to make martinis!

50-cent earrings. I’ll learn to make old-jewelry collages.

Hermes scarf. I’ll learn to like the colors.

Cashmere-blend yarn. I’ll learn to like the colors?

Celebrity-authored cookbook. I’ll learn . . .

Brass towel ring, new in box, ungrabbed.

I’ll never learn.