A Waste of Time

12.

I spent a lot of time hating you.
More time than any one person
should dedicate to such
a pointless
pastime.

I'm not quite sure why
pointing out your flaws
makes for such a splendid
sport.

Just now before here
I was doing it again.
Calling you ridiculous
and lacking
sense.

Mocking your moments
and memories in the
making.

I sometimes stupidly long
for you
to think
that I am some sort of
genius.

When the smartest thing
I ever did
was leaving you
behind.

Photograph

11.

I just saw you smiling
in a photograph.
It looked like a real smile;
I liked it.

You looked content, fattened,
swollen with years and settling.
I liked that too.

I am sorry that I just didn't have
the space for rent
inside of my strongest muscle
for your muscles or
strength.

Your bed was warm
and it was Sunday morning
when I laid awake
counting partners
and the bells rang
and you caught me counting and
with a knowing smile
kissed my face.

I liked that most of all.

Happy Holiday

10.


I sat at the table
with myself.
The cat laid in the corner
dreaming catdreams of cardboard
boxes and carpet squares.
The blinds were drawn and
the lamplight caught my
reflection.
I looked at he and he at me
and we both felt sorry for
the other.
I raised my solitary glass of wine
and he returned the gesture.

"Happy Holidays" I said
and we both sat down
to leftovers and silence.

The Vicious Cycle

9.

Every time the world gets heavy
I lighten my load with a glass of beer.
The hand extends,
the fingers grasp,
the lips part,
the soul refreshes.

...the mind clouds
the feet stumble
the head aches
the stomach churns.

Every time the world gets heavy
I lighten my load with a glass of wine.
The eyebrow raises
The nose inhales
The palate dances
The lips part
The spirit warms.

...the mind clouds,
the feet stumble,
the head aches,
the stomach churns.

...the wallet empties,
the days are lost,
the anxiety raises,
the time wastes.

Every time the world gets heavy
I lighten my load with a glass of beer.