Elaine Equi
always struck me as a poet
who should have been in Joy Division.

She grew up in the right years,
has the look and her books
seem to fit the Nembutal bass lines

of the darkly throbbing songs.
Her poems feel like winter
more than any other season,
and so does Joy Division.

Later, she would have segued
to New Order, probably on keyboards.
Later, when I lose my mind
I will tell people she was actually

in Joy Division, like a fun fact
because I will believe it by then.
I see her beside Ian Curtis more
and more each day. She appears to be

growing more comfortable there.