I see myself speaking
trying to make myself 
understood
but it is as though 
there were glass between us
or a sound chamber's muffle
my mouth only seems to
open and close
emitting unheard bubbles
of wishes and hopes
offers and queries
as I reach out vainly
toward your image
dimly perceived
through the ever-thickening fog
and the ever-widening
distance

        -acm
        (7.26.96)