The Wine Rep
Naked, making money, laughing
just as hydraulics hiss
from the bus lifting
itself back up to go –
easy life for a wine rep.
Dressed, no cigarette yet,
relentless phone calls
ringing like church bells –
clients wanting their orders
on time. Bathtub, backrub,
a bowl of yogurt with berries
emptied. Car office, daily
route – a butterfly smacked
the windshield; reminding
of fragility. Ed,
always an Ed thinking power
is a rubberband. A movie
rented from a red box near a store exit
and a smoke crave
fulfilled with a co-worker.
Four hours since dressing
and back home. Dusty man shakes
his hair, sits down, inquires
why her finger is soaking
in milk. Fed,
hot pepper eggs, working
to empty a red box
of wine; cab sauv. The soft cat
lost in licking. Her naked,
drying up.
The Framer
Returning home from the freezer
he peeled a sweat-glued shirt
off his pinched nerve and side-racked back
before patting the dog’s head
sporadically as she twisted in circles
while sprinting. To the fridge first
for a Coors: testimony of his paycheck –
for a fancy: ponderous like harlequin –
for a lover: tasteful in the dance –
for a thrill: rarely inquisitive –
for a Coors: and all it sandwiches;
smiling melodically.
Each second-
floor balcony is the same square kissing
the bedroom’s speckled carpet.
City air wafts as cars
act like mosquitoes, thickening
in humidity; another bottle cap joins the pile.
His wife’s hand excited his senses:
quickly zipping concentration
from scribbled paper. Fascinating.
Honking horn, drunken rant, pigeons screaming
from close wires because she thinks they’re cute;
he agrees, and they feed them periodically
as fancy: repetitious like lottery –
as favor: providing to beggars –
as insult: slashing authoritative code –
as access: oblivious war over bread –
as fancy: something small to love.
Cooking poultry and squatting,
she curled her fingers around the stem
of her wine glass. Days exchanged
and food consumed, they walked the
dog who engaged in smell more than most humans.
They admired a goose floating at night,
returned to bed and did the dance; tastefully.
The Jeweler
Fabulous under fluorescents;
encased. Encased under
encased fluorescents: wicked
diamonds on felt pads. Woman
gawks above wicked diamonds
glittering on felt pads
under fluorescents – wicked woman
buys wicked diamond.
“Wilson. Good sale, good sale
Wilson.” Boss always wears yellow:
mustard family of yellow. Wilson’s
family loves mustard and mustard boss
loves Wilson’s family.
Wilson, home with other Wilson’s,
home where Wilson’s play
play home. Wilson made dinner;
famous Wilson dinner as Wilson’s
exchange days and ideas with kids
and kids with mom and mom
exchanges ideas with Wilson’s, and Wilson’s
with mom’s mom.
Wilson, teaching chess to two
kids who picked up chess early.
Kids quick with their queens
intimidate Wilson and wise,
patient Wilson intimidated,
intimidates kids
to blunder; blundered,
kids felt intimidation.
Mom drops off the hot chocolate
and finishes her show, says goodnight,
shows Wilson a sign & secret sign and drops
a kiss on the kids and the kids
kiss the mom and Wilson wonders.
Her in bed and Wilson hearing
her wonder about Wilson as she joins
her hand to her Wilson gold –
holding her torso. Wilson
kisses kids and tucks them in
thankful kids still enjoy chess – Mrs. Wilson
rubs her diamond.