In a Beautiful Country

is to turn off the headlights

and drive very fast down dark roads.

Another way to fall in love

is to say they are only mints

and swallow them with a strong drink.

Then it is autumn in the body.

Your hands are cold.

Then it is winter and we are still at war.

The gold-haired girl is singing into your ear

about how we live in a beautiful country.

Snow sifts from the clouds

into your drink. It doesn’t matter about the war.

A good way to fall in love

is to close up the garage and turn the engine on,

then down you’ll fall through lovely mists

as a body might fall early one morning

from a high window into love. Love,

the broken glass. Love, the scissors

and the water basin. A good way to fall

is with a rope to catch you.

A good way is with something to drink

to help you march forward.

The gold-haired girl says, Don’t worry

Slow down. Nothing bad will happen.