what tender caution line

what tender caution line we’ve set up around our circumstances
I hesitate to mention it, to inquire further
even if I did, could you define it
I am certain I would not want to hear
this relationship that we have defined
surely it would destroy it, this tenuous thing
I am not sure that I am content with this thing that we have
but I might prefer it, to what we might have to endure in its ruin
its not shallow
if we enjoy it
both of us, and surely we must if we keep finding ourselves here
to slip between the sheets
not anonymous, but not fully known to each other
we know the others name and occupation
where and how the other lives
how each of us occupies at least some of our time
but nothing of our pasts
nothing before the other
our shared experience is the only shared memory
my past in particular is hidden, so much that I do not even comment on its hiding
our circumstances are so specific that while we know much of each other,
surely we know relatively little
where would you want to eat if we were strolling through the city, as we’ve never done
do you enjoy walking streets at night at all
what kind of coat would you wear, were you not locked inside this house with me
how do you shop, quickly with purpose, slowly without intent
we’ve never gone together outside these walls
all the behaviors and mannerisms that would exist are a secret
if I did experience them, these things, whatever they are, would surely be insignificant
the way that you talk to clerks when checking out,
the kinds of scarves that you always look at, but never buy
these things are meaningless, and they have no bearing,
except in my unknowing of them
that they lie outside our experience of each other
it is their shadowy existence that is troubling, that threatens
again these are corners and distant hallways that should not be sought
what this is, whatever this is
has its limits