MY APARTMENT

MAN AND THE WOMAN IN AN UPSTAIRS APARTMENT

My apartment she said is not

That big and not in a state I’d

Like you to see but give me

Time and I’ll tidy it up and put

Away the books and papers

Scattered over the floor and table

And put all my clothes and smalls

Away and hey open up the windows

To let in fresh air to let out the smell

Of cigarettes and the cat I keep after

Finding it by the trash and it looked

So sad and unkempt and you said sure

Whenever you like wondering what

She did all day while not out at work

And if she kept the cat in bed with her

And had cat’s hairs everywhere and

How could she live in that untidiness

And come to think of it she did have

That catty smell when you stood next

To her in the lobby and yet you couldn’t

Help being attracted to her couldn’t help

Wanting to just plant a kiss on that cheek

Of hers and maybe get her into bed for

Sex then she said you must come over

And listen to my jazz records and maybe

Meet my mother and if you don’t mind

Her passing wind occasionally we could

All have a good time and all of a sudden

You remembered you had to be out of

Town for a while and maybe after the Fall

You uttered with an awkward smile and

She smiled back and pushed her fingers

Through her hair (unbrushed and tied back

With a blue ribbon) all long and black.