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.