it was burning weather

. . .

flames fell from the sky

and wind whipped pines

morphed to rotisseries

. . .

skewering wildlife

in terrified transit

The elephant in the room

led to day-drinking. . .

ensconced in studio equipped with

hot plate,

bath-free bath,

and screened window of fluctuating size,

the addition of Babar

made the  claustrophobic closet

one paciderm too populated

–and margarita short of Taco Tuesday

the elephant wasn’t too blame. . .

the work-around I employed

–learning to scale walls—

hinged on equipment given to error,

and the work-around he found

–at Christmas office parties, and stultifying family gatherings—

was sporadic at best

since despite his edge

of maleness,

whiteness,

and impressive trunk & toenails,

there just wasn’t much call for

white elephants, anymore

–particularly offline

The day-drinking fed

into night drinking

–hapless hours in which the tusky fellow also partook, and by the gallon–

me, trying to forget,

and he, completely unable to, possessed as he was

of regrettable long-term memory—

all of which ultimately resulted

in photosensitivity

–on my part—

and sticky skin

–as far as he went—

I tried coping. . .

purchasing pair after pair of drugstore sunglass,

but no matter the tint,

Babar always looked in the pink

when I wore them. . .

pirouetting despite the notable lack of pomp & circus,

–doubling down when I rested-

his coping mechanisms

were understandably murkier. . .

comprised of Wild Kingdom reruns,

shelled peanuts,

and mammoth hangovers,

–but then. . .

so were mine.

if successfully executed,

the sighing of Sue

is always

passed tense. . .

the

expulsion

explosive

–shattering ear drums

–disrupting inspiration

–altering heart beat

the

sound

resounding

–finite

–infinite

–foreshadowing unending silence that marks all end.

best, then– to

sidestep Sue

(if you see her coming!)

given to melancholia,

and gifter of such,

you just

can’t be

in her

present,

overly long.

I was writer

blocked

–mind fully unfriended–

and I could no longer s’talk my thoughts. . .

much less comments

on ‘em,

I could only guess

at the storm of them

–the I of them–

hidden by her’cane

and stumped,

(both to & fro)

my soap box crumpled underfoot

–faded in Tide–

words held service

but died

–TOT–

(German for: tip of tongue)

wake unwoke

–no 11^th hour speech–

just splish-splash of whitewater from

wee hour ships

(in parallel universes)

–ice-berged or not,

here they stall!

chattering teeth

conforming

(as indicated)

in exterior smile

–less that irksome ocular involvement–

ripostes

echoing

. . .

distorting

. . .

bouncing

(like yore steps )

in underbooked auditorium

–a monotonous, comforting matinee–

preserving

neck’s integrity.

It was their first date

. . .

She–dressed to the 9’s,

and he, half that

(and more)

.a solid 8.

to a near 10 skirt & heels

–cosmetics sparingly, but judiciously applied

pinned, plucked,

waxed. . .and shaven

he was the

last

,

too

–all khakis, cologne,

and coordination, besides–

gender appropriate

scents wafting in one another’s wake as they stepped into the evening

. . .

a full moon evening

. . .

(cue Howling Wolf)

w pleasant breeze, and balmy feels, and

–car door, opened without guile—naturally, too,

since Lambro-genies…

(skirt smoothing)

are magically

(not there’s)

and both belting,

and pair smiling,

each heading,

(in roundabout fashion)

to the finest place

. . .

either secretly dreamt of,

but neither dared mention

. . .

it was

. . .

. . .

ideal.

the stuff of which all that endures

is made of

–intimate & private, and

so appropriately appointed that

within minutes of staggered arrival

–things got real.

Really real.

dress-up game over,

apparel exchanged

(by tacit agreement)

4

sweats,

(2 to a leg)

and tease,

(because. . .really)

and comfy bed socks. the better

to slip-slide on floors slick enough on which to dance

–and yeah, linoleum, yet its faux tile pattern

was as Grecian as Grecian could be,

–as Grecian as her erstwhile updo

(and more negotiable, too!)

while make up removal

(and start of belief)

. . .

was less .

Seem-less

. . .

but more!

. . .

he–

(so not hymn)

flopping artlessly yet

elegantly

into repose

to

assess menu options

and

she–prattling on about

her way.

all 24/7/365 of it

–effortlessly concocted a 4 star meal,

(too much whine

precluding that 5^th star)

–inflection

falling,

and rising,

and falling again

–precisely attuned to his de rigueur,

and non-committal,

and impeccably timed,

monosyllabic responses

(sounding bored)

she served him topless

(slide-her)

as carbs were so yesterday

and it was

a perfect first date

chez eux

–followed by a still better

second,

when 5 o’clock shadowed

their

winter’s day.