PARTING KISS.

A WOMAN THINKS HER HUSBAND IS SEEING ANOTHER WOMAN.

Natanya threw a cup
and pot and saucepan
and I stood there
wondering what the heck

what this outburst
was all about
but a knife
whizzed by my ear

and I shouted at her
but she wasn't listening
she fled upstairs
cursing

babbling about
some girl
whose name
she had found

in a notebook of mine
and address too
she said
who is she?

Who?
This girl here?
What girl?
This one here

she shoved
the notebook at me
O her
I said

she was a girl
I stopped for shop-lifting
the other day
and I had to note

her name and address
for the police
Natanya stared at me
her dark eyes

bright and sharp
likely story
she said
you've been

seeing her
behind my back
and probably
bedded her

in that darn
workplace of yours
there was spittle
on her lower lip

ask Ron
he was there
he saw her too
he has her name

in his book too
O sure
he probably
had her too

she said
that is scraping
the bottom of barrel
I said

ask the manager
he saw
the notebook too
or do you think he

had the girl too?
Natnaya shut up
and looked
at the bed

behind her
I suppose
I made a mistake
she said quietly

yes
I said
I don't suppose
you have time?

she said
looking towards
the made up bed
not now

not after this
maybe later
I said
giving her a parting kiss.