Care

Rae Armantrout

Dress like you care!

Eat like you care!

Care like you care!

You don’t think

apples just grow on trees,

do you?

•

A fish taps a clam

against a bony knob

of coral

to crack its shell —

which demonstrates intelligence

yes, but

is the fish

pleased with itself?

•

Alone in your crib,

you form syllables.

Are you happy when one

is like another?

Add yourself

to yourself.

Now you have someone.