It's that Time  #139
November 28, 2002

I can't remember
all the names of my lovers
Eric,  John, Jim,
Joe, Bill...
it fades as I get full
when I can't eat another bite.
I put them out one by one.
I stub out their words and their
eyes until they no longer move

It begins to stink after a while
right before it's time to paint
my walls a new color

after

I pull out a clean white sheet
of paper
I vacuum the floor
and give my dog a bath
I rearrange the furniture
or take a bubble bath.
and remove a flower from
its vase and begin again

I love me
I love me not.