Very Short Fiction (Poetry)

Something of nothing
if not the essence
a brief suggestion
a snippet of life
caught in three pages

This glimpse of story —
a train is passing
a lighted window
wherein a couple
draw the attention

The writer lipreads
their conversation
wrestles with names and
a tight description
no room here for more

This short episode
heightens the moment
fiction is always
half recollection
memory’s snapshots

He knew someone once
the girl’s quite like her
he sifts his few words
beachcombs old margins
inventing the rest