the touch

how does one take
advantage of another
it begins with a touch
and the thought
she's had a little wine
she'll be in the mood
and she thinks
i owe him at the very least this
he gave her 11 years
and two beautiful children
but the more he touches
the more it hurts
like fire burning her skin
with every searing touch
and then the tears start rolling
and she can't stop
and she thinks of her
and all the pain
and how she can do anything
for a time
and she thinks
it's just a little longer
people have survived war
and famine
poverty and disease
she can survive this heartache
a little longer

empty

there’s an empty space

i feel it on my finger

where you placed my ring

i feel it at night

the ocean of space

in our bed where

you used to lay

it’s there in my heart

when i look at our kids

their searching eyes

asking what’s wrong

it’s wrong and its

right all at the same

time, these moments

of emptiness and pain