Games in Your Uncle's Den
appeared in Antithesis Common Magazine
We have your uncle's cabin for the weekend
where you spent many happy boyhood summers.
The musty den with the rust-colored shag carpet has wood-paneled walls
and your uncle made all the furniture.
In the tree house he built
you and Stevie somebody sneaked puffs of the Winstons
stolen from your aunt's purse.
Yes, it sounds hilarious
but it's been raining all day and the electricity is out and I'm bored.
What should we do?
Besides that.
The old toy box has checkers, marbles
You take out a deck of old fashioned, gold-rimmed playing cards.
Strip poker?
No. What else?
Twister, Life, Operation, Battleship...
Hey, strip Battleship! Wanna?
No.
I pull out the long flat Clue box
hope that all the little weapons are there:
rope, candlestick, wrench, lead pipe...
Damn, the iron is missing
and so is the wheelbarrow.
Wait, that's Monopoly.
Oh this will be fun!
Shit! How'd you figure out it was Miss Scarlet so fast?
I pull out another box.
Ouija Board!
Let's bring back the ghost of my uncle!
A tingle, the sudden feeling of being watched.
Crack of thunder makes me jump.
Scared?
No!
Finger tips on planchette, just barely touching
and yet it moves, from letter to letter....
S... T...
You're moving it!
No I'm not, I swear!
R.. .I..
I can tell you're moving it!
I'm not! I'm not!
P... O... U...
I... J... A
I pull my hands away, relieved, disappointed, annoyed.
Not the ghost of your uncle.
Diedre at the Market
I ran into Diedre at the market.
Not the cheap one near you,
that expensive one on Route 1.
What a shock to see her there!
In our 20s we shopped at the A&P
Ziti and generic sauce.
In our 30s we only bought health foods
We took yoga then, too.
Campaigned for the same governor
who didn't win, but it was fun anyway
Volunteered, reduced, re-used, recycled
Imagine seeing her in that fancy market!
Her hair was frosted, can you believe it?
And her nails professionally done
Probably goes to that place I go to, it's the best in town.
God, I can't believe how much she's changed!
Over Don
Yeah, I'm over him
I don't need to keep checking my phone
to make sure it's turned on
and I put the picture of us under my bed.
I won't love that way again
because the pain almost killed me.
He's probably got a new girlfriend.
I'm sure he's got a new girlfriend.
Any woman would be lucky to have him.
Just look at his picture. Look. See?
No, leave it on the dresser
I'll put it away later.
Penitence
Sister Pat takes chocolate chip cookies
warm from the oven.
Mmm, don't they smell good?
A special treat for the man
who takes care of the grounds
of the convent
"Sister Pat, you'll make me fat," he says every time.
His eyes twinkle
his smile is playful.
and his tanned, muscular arms...
"You're too thin," she says
"Have some milk, too."
He doesn't know that each afternoon
Sister Pat watches him drive away
fingers fumbling beads
tearful atonement.
Jesus died for her sins
Please Don't
Please don't feel
you need to apologize
for not writing.
Yes, I know you've been busy
and I'm sorry about all your stress
but the truth is
I didn't notice that I hadn't heard from you
until you reminded me.
Psycho Path
I came to the woods
to think deliberately
about anything but you.
I am taking deep breaths
from my diaphragm
that reminds me,
I can throw out my diaphragm.
On the other hand
I might need it again
I might meet someone new
Or you might call me.
Breathe in, breathe out
the air is so warm and it smells sweet
the way you used to
right after you got out of the shower...
Stop it! Stop it!
I am perfectly healthy, calm and relaxed
as I make my way along the wooded path
I am so not thinking about you.
Our Third Month
If I admit that your comment about my thighs
hurt my feelings and made me mad
you'll think I'm petty and insecure
and then I'll have to apologize
instead of you
so I say I don't think this is working out.
Good, you look surprised.
Ask what's wrong.
Oh, I don't know.
Do you think this is working out?
Hey, why do you look uncomfortable?
What's wrong?
Chex Mix Sutra
for Barbara S.
Delicate, crispy
squares with holes
nuts browned from the oven
salty taste of
Worchestershire
pretzels are a bit harsh
and can tear the tender
skin of the roof of your mouth
if you're not careful.
The Game
I am talking about last night's football game with my new boyfriend
how our team phoned in the second half
got cocky and lost our edge
and our chance to play in the superbowl.
It was the first game I have ever watched
and yet I converse with ease, or so he thinks
not realizing that he is doing all the talking and I am just agreeing.
A successful strategy.
One of My Very Few Love Poems
driving distracted as I
fumble for my cell phone
we squabbled this morning
over some dumb thing
and even though your call
won't resolve the issue
and no apology is forthcoming
I still want to hear your voice.
We Lie Together
We're in bed
sweaty from the sex
which to be honest
wasn't that good
You're not like my ex
who was so wonderful and
who left me for someone else
I'm not over it yet
You got dumped too
you told me all about her
how you miss her and
what happened tonight
never happened with her
"I have to go," you say
"Okay," I say, ready
for you to leave
"I love you," you say.
"I love you, too."
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