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.

Listed at Duotrope
Listed with Poets & Writers
CLMP Member
List with Art Deadline
Follow us on MagCloud