Paula did it so others in the office—
who lunch at The Olive Garden together,
don't include her—won't think she is
a loser. On her desktop, it pulsates.

The friend hugs you a little longer than usual and winks.
"Andrew was not the Brother of the Lord," he says,
and you wonder just who is the lord in this story. Who is

 Gesturing toward the master bedroom suite,
"Solid cherry wood!" Mother said grandly.
Two bureaus, two mirrors, four-poster bed,

                Tell her you’ll do anything to keep her.
The red dress twisted under her is the last of
her mother’s history. You want to keep her

To look at them, you might not think the two men, having spoken briefly 
                and now moving away from each other, as different goals 
                require, have much history, if any, 

There are certain words—ecstasy, abandon,
surrender—we can wait all our lives,
sometimes,

Places take you by surprise
you walk past them

skirt torn
high
from fighting

on Spanish Rice. Like strange-eyed minks we took
the town, with bright, unearthly stares and offering
nothing. We were eager for suspicion. Ginger even

My morning cereal can’t contain my hunger.
I ask my wife for more. As usual, she refuses.
For once I’m undaunted and I eat the empty bowl.