coffee ring residue
she said, lately i’m as comforting
as a cup of day-old, microwaved coffee
i told her, silly kitten – you don’t drink java
you’re missing the point
where were you saturday night?
why did you stumble home at 4:00 AM?
who were you with?
no one; no body (spoke Odysseus, the liar)
credit cards leave a paper trail
like little, extramarital breadcrumbs
she asked me, when was the last time
you were honest with yourself
or with me?
i shrugged and emptied myself into the drain
not my best
put the blue one on, she said
i like that one
she helps me
pull the windsor knot
taut
water on the stove
for coffee
don’t forget
cufflinks
i wasn’t feeling
my best
(not my best at all)
but she helps
me find the buttons
and keeps
my tie
straight
C Carol studied poetry under Diane Wakoski at Michigan State University and has been published in Empty Mirror (http://www.emptymirrorbooks.com/author/clcarol) and elsewhere.
