sensible shoes

for many years, she had a lover who appreciated her sensible shoes,  and only borrowed

a little money at a time, who looked good in a tux and used cologne, and
who knew just how to unbutton her ann taylor loft blouses:  carefully, urgently.

  
and after moving the kids' helmets and skates, and your road atlas

and noting the coffee stained carpets, they enjoyed acrobatic acts on rainy

afternoons in her minivan and this kept your marriage strong.  you don’t know this.

but now he has died and no one told her, and after six black months of silence she found out

on social media, which is the way of death and modern lovers,  and the enormity of this loss

drove her a little bit mad, but you didn’t notice because of the steak and eggs.

they kept on coming, sliding onto the plate with a perfect regularity,  and only a little insane,

she kept the cutlery in the drawer, though she has started shoplifting again because

after twenty five years she can finally admit:  she has always hated the way you kiss,

and how else can she compensate for that now.