21 - the Relationship------------------------------------------
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a story always loses something
in the second telling
and so over the years the Graftons
developed a relationship
that needed a third party around
to break the silence
if the children behaved
and the job was secure
if no one had died
and the car didn't knock
they lived with the sound
of the traffic outside
and the clock
Myrna survived
with the Jr. League
and a Brownie troop
and when the kids grew up she
went into group
Charlie held on playing golf
till his back wouldn't let him
and feeling his age one day
left home
and flew to Cleveland on business
checking into a motel
as a Mr. and Mrs. Smith
but like the sales pitch says
after one night in a Holiday Inn
you'll not be surprised in the next
in retrospect I think the whole affair
was a kind of suicide attempt
on something gone humdrum
and Charlie
going to sleep that night
vaguely wondered
if the maid would arrive in time
to turn off the gas
if she did
perhaps it would be a good omen
if not
well, a story always loses something
in the second tellinge |
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This morning
My back hurts
Under by eyes -- bags
My skin wrinkles -- sags
There's no sun
The buildings are cold grey stones
Last night I dreamed of dying
Color me blue
I'm forty two |
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