hence the cheating the bossing the making you portage
both canoes type an address on each gray envelope hence
the cheating the leaving the wanting you back
you loved me hence you brought me a washing machine
climbed into the hospital bed laid your body over the blaze
led me to the river to be doused hence the rod the line the hook
i didn’t love you hence no snowmobiling over the frozen
river the move to new york getting mugged
the blistered sunburn casting into long island sound hence
the skin peeling off in sheets
you didn’t love me hence the begging the cajoling the pleading
the guilt trips the flat out announcement if you don’t have sex with me
i’ll leave hence i gave in i went under i didn’t love me
i loved me hence i loved you hence the release
i watched your scales flash just under the glittering surface
you got smaller and smaller the rod clattered to the ground
i walked home
Dear ________, I Didn’t Love You