MOMENTARY LIFE


This is the last time I saw you. I don't ever want to see you again.

I am afraid of you. How can you pretend that you are faithful to her? I feel sorry for that girl, I want to tell her the truth, even if she laughs in my face that she's known what you are like all along. I suppose you have been together for so long that it would be naive for me to think she has no idea.

I don't know what is the right thing to do.

Why did we desire each other?
Why didn't we stifle this impulse?
Why did we wait for so long before making any move?

we get in the taxi, then it begins.
it's like the driver isn't even there.
we're drunk but we know what we want tonight.
I look out of the window and I ask,
are you ok? thinking your silence odd.
I look at you. You look straight back at me.
Are you ok, you say it really slow,
and sliding over put your arms around
my body. I protest aloud for no
one's benefit, What are you doing, you
too keep on protesting senselessly, please,
please, please, please, o, I can't, I must control
myself, while going rapidly ahead.
We don't know where we are, without seat belts
the taxi swerves and we are knocked from side
to side. You smell my hair and bite into
my hands, you push me down onto the seat
and lie on top, I climb onto your lap
then fall back to the ground between your knees.
The driver remains calm through all of this,
interrupts us from time to time, to ask
which route to take. you give sober response.
The taxi stops, I pick up my shoes, leave
the car, and then my momentary life
ends suddenly, the cutting of a knife.



the love letter collection
submitted 8:45 AM EST
wednesday, december 5, 2007