23 Years Since

Stone-quiet
An awkward aureole 
Of silence
Surrounds
Our dysfunctional saints.

Despite this the summer 
Day blossoms vibrantly outside
 an open window. 

He lights a cigarette
But doesn’t smoke it
She pours him some wine
He refuses the rosette
& so she politely
Drinks it for him.

For 2 hours
They’ve sat in silence
Looking to one another
From across the room
At times
Or looking down 
At their phones
-Mostly ghosts.

Her sniffles 
The only sounds
Breaking 
Through 
The mute wall
of a mutual
Refusal 

They’ve sat there
for two whole hours
In complete silence
a cold indifference
An air of malice, even. 

Then he finally concedes
& ends the torturous silence
 holds the pen
& Scratches the damned thing!
and signs the divorce
papers mercifully
ending the torture
of their final meeting.

Without a word
He stands up 
Gathers his papers
Leaves a 
Cigarette burning 
in the ashtray,
Opens the door
Looks back
Once last time
And slams it shut
Behind him.

She stares at him
Through the blinds
Nervously
Pawing at her rosary
Watches him leave.
Hidden behind
a pretty curtain
of flower patterns. 

Sunsets. The evening yawns
Like a tabby all warm on the horizon
an orange peel 

lays curled on the kitchen counter
a song is playing low
In the background.

Nothing’s more,
Only love is on the loom
Weaving simple
Tapestries of webs 
And lies looney like the moon. 

Without a word.
& that’s enough. 

 

 

c. 2010, Allentown, PA 

Reviews

[Isola]

Dear Poet, you have captured the affliction of such a moment and its certain impact on their lives.