Poem 204

An interesting thing about separation is that it deepens a step with each new partner an ex separates from …

Lover By Lover

Lover by lover you leave me
going further along the chain of hands
that in the end will be your life
a shortlist of names a list
all the same

I knew your husband I met him
twice
but he was solid to me something
to push against

when you wrote to say you'd left him months ago
I felt like a soldier at daybreak
who sees the one next to him in line
leaning heavy on his shoulder
is dead
and stands and lays him down softly
in the mud and thinks
of breakfast