John Vanderslice Dear Sarah Shu
dear sarah shu,
I leave for you
all I knew about this job
on microcassette for further review
what it meant to me
how you’ll make it dear, hopefully
it’s dangerous here
yes it’s dangerous here
peer round corners with dental mirrors,
heed the threats, taking cautionary measures,
in the end, it is love
you’ll have to learn to survive
dear sarah shu,
I leave for you
all I knew about this job
on palmcorder for future review
your office will flood every night,
it’s water, don’t try to fight it
suspend all your files using
my system of hanging wires
break apart what I connected
show what I only suggested
’cause in the end it was love
I had to learn to survive
picture me by the window sill
wrapped in copper wire, my autumn sleeves,
with torn up directives
spread round the floor like shoreham leaves
picture me locking office door, now
kneeling down on the floor,
screaming: “protection,
I can make it, I can make it!”
peer round corners with dental mirrors,
heed the threats, taking cautionary measures,
but in the end, it is love
you’ll have to learn to survive
so long, sarah shu,
farewell to you,
stay calm, stay sweet,
regards from the other side of the teeth
break apart what I connected
show what I only suggested
’cause in the end it was love
we had to learn to survive
