You didn’t know any better
when I suggested, for a moment, that you lean on the one and the three
instead of the two and the four
taught you that rudimentary step down that made you feel like you knew what you were doing
Truth is, neither of us did
Veronica was as close as we got
to that
and her stance was arguable, at best
But, there we were, on an autumn night with the chills, scarves and whiskey
just sort of walking along and not worrying about crossing the street
where Jarral should be
where the lows stayed low, forever and a day
When the whiskey was gone it was apparent
that we’d have to speak at some point
we’d have to
and then you did
The wheres, whys and whoms
were all sewn up in the first sentence and
I can’t say any of them were unexpected
I puffed my chest as a protector
As I’d done months before when it became time for Paul to stop
for Paul to leave
Now, I don’t know if I could have followed through with that thought even though
I was definitely ready to try
You said something about the purple cat
That you’d need my help
Yes, of course, it’s no problem
Yes, of course I will
Yes, of course Thursday afternoon
After the last of the last
I won’t tell anyone
Why should I?
Who are they?
