folding napkins
with a maiden aunt
whispered names
Bach fugue
the sunday ritual
of redrying dishes
first love
the scags of corn
in my aunt’s teeth
folding napkins
with a maiden aunt
whispered names
Bach fugue
the sunday ritual
of redrying dishes
first love
the scags of corn
in my aunt’s teeth
engaged
her emoticon moves
from ; to :
favorite barista
my latte heart missing
pre-nup
she initials each page
PITA
already forgetting
the engraved words —
tight wedding band
staying with her mother . . .
Vegas postmark
divorce final —
tender skin
where the tattoo was
Lew Watts, Illinois, USA
Tanya McDonald, Washington, USA
truck stop diner
everything greasy
except the spoon
eggs over easy
the waitress calls me sugar
big rig
in the washroom mirror —
slow shake
heartbreak on the radio
the hash browns
too salty
five-dollar tip
the cashier tucks it in
black ice—
her phone number
at the bottom of the bill
Lew Watts, Illinois, USA
Tanya McDonald, Washington, USA