<manguso's "short essay on love"> 2004-01-28.8:19 p.m. Short Essay on Love Sarah Manguso I was in the alley and then I was in the restaurant. Something had happened and I didn't know what it was. All I knew was I was changed. The train goes into the tunnel and comes out the other side; the trembling child emerges from behind the curtain. Unchain my heart, thou monstrous god. This is a picture of love: two gondolas in the dark. This is also a picture of love: a hill covered with snow and in the distance just within view... a snowman. Once I learned how to read the lines on the side of my hand, I was never the same. A love story: I am cold and happy and then sleep on the divan and wake up sad. In the morning I use the dusty toothbrush that doesn't belong to anyone. Love? Practice riding on a skateboard in an empty street at night. Go to a high school football game. Everybody there knows what love is. Another love story: I think there is a knife in my head somewhere. Another: There was only one picture of me, and I took it. Remember the names of towns. Give birth to something that looks like you. back /& forth /& frosting names are often sad