Sunday, February 13, 2011

Another Friday Night


She sat inside her ice-cream life 

and guessed the number of 
bingo markers it might take 
to win the jackpot. 
Sometimes she questioned why 
so many people drove her 
crazy. 
Insulted her. 
She divided her friends and lovers 
into good and bad directions. 

It was raining outside when 
she began to cook the supper. 
The stove was hot. 
She was cold. 
She was always cold in her house. 
In her ice vein kitchen with 
the pretty white lace curtains 
and the yellow-green walls. 

Her problems could all be 
isolated into one situation after 
another. 
She lit a cigarette. 
Sitting at her table wondering 
if she should cook rice or potatoes 
with the meat. 
It didn't matter, 
they'd wolf down the food 
without a glance at her efforts. 

She found she was happier 
when the kids were at school and 
that man was at work 
doing whatever it 
was he did to earn 
the money. 
Impatience wasn't 
so much her statement 
as was unconcern. 
'So what', 
she thought, as she dusted her ashes 
into the ashtray. 

Her memories could stretch so 
far back before this life. 
Yet she knew that what she knew 
wasn't really very much at all. 
Maybe he really loved her? 
Who knew! 
For her, it was only a situation. 
She wondered if they'd remember 
to take their shoes off at the door? 

Her feelings could easily be hurt. 
On the other hand, she often 
neglected to express herself. 
At half past five she'd put supper 
on the table. 
They would sit around it. 
Her family sharing the same room 
and the same bathroom. 
Pity that 
they were mutually ignorant of 
one other. 

She put out her cigarette. 
Light another. 
She wasn't afraid of cancer, 
just living. 
Working man would be home soon. 
Kids would follow soon after. 
Sighing she stood up and pushed 
the cat away with her foot. 
Irritated, she 
checked her purse. 
Bingo markers neatly labelled. 
Another Friday night.

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