Room in an Envelope

Room in an Envelope

1October 2
Dear Anil,
You asked what I would change about my room.
First, I would remove my sister’s humming,
then her sock balanced on my reading lamp,
then the question she asks whenever I turn a page:
Is that the good part?
I have drawn a border down our carpet
with a row of shoes neither of us can cross.
Your room must be a kingdom with one ruler.
Imagine shutting a door and keeping every inch
of the silence for yourself.
Write soon.
Zadie

2October 8
Dear Zadie,
My door shuts without scraping the floor.
The walls are pale green, the color I chose
from a card of twenty nearly matching squares.
Yesterday I told a joke
to the empty chair.
I waited for a laugh before remembering
that nobody had heard it.
After dinner I carried my homework downstairs
and worked beside my uncle while he folded towels.
He did not ask about the joke,
but he stayed until I finished.
Write soon.
Anil

3October 23
Dear Anil,
I meant to answer before my sister left
for a week at our cousin’s house.
Now her lamp is dark, her shoes are gone,
and the room follows every rule I made.
Last night I reached the good part of my book
and lifted my head to tell
no one.
This morning I moved the border shoes
back into the closet.
There is a pale stripe in the carpet
where they stood.
Write when you can.
Zadie

4October 29
Dear Zadie,
Your envelope arrived with one corner folded
as if it had been listening at a door.
I read your letter at the upstairs desk,
then took it down to read beside my uncle.
I still like choosing when to close my door.
Perhaps a kingdom needs a gate
that opens from the inside.
When your sister returns, will you tell her
which part of the book you saved?
Write when you can.
I’ll be here.
Anil