A Pinch, A Clank

Her mind was messy
or dirty or pigeon-holed
the look on her face
blank,
fearless.

Everything became blurry,
Twisted
Uncomfortable, fragile, expected
Her palms sweaty now
Heart crinkling,
Exploding.

She closed her eyes
not to go elsewhere,
to take it in more slowly
to control it, focus.

There was a pinch, a clank
A release, a weight
A choice, more choice
The choice, silence.

Boil

I wanted to make you chicken, broccoli, ziti tonight
I took out the chicken, sprayed the frying pan,
dug in the back of the pantry for your favorite four cheese alfredo sauce
I washed the cutting board, set the broccoli out,
put the water on the stove
Just as it reached a boil I remembered
that you left four months ago

I made the usual amount anyway
Half a box of ziti
Couple crowns of broccoli
Two of the finest Tyson chicken patties
Imagined you calling to say you were running late
Got stuck at work or something

I started eating without you
Watched your plate go cold
Thought three times I heard the door
Made myself coffee when I finished
Washed my plate while it cooled
Then sat with your plate thirty minutes more