There were
Valentine Days

when these
lovers
would clink
crystal
glasses
to toast
inebriating
love

now
she can't
live with him for
one more day

no longer
can she
suffer the
progression
of his
disease

the *****
just dropped
him through
yet another
trap door

in a long
succession
of trap doors
descending
rapidly in a
desperate
plunge to
a hard
bottom

one morning
she awoke
refusing to be
held hostage
by his raging
disease

not one
single day
more

the
excruciating
insanity, the
lurking
danger, the
lingering
threat the
parade of
pain needed
to end

she was sick
and tired
of being
sick and
tired

she wisely
kicked
his *** out
and returned
his engagement ring

he went back
to Service Merchandise
on Valentines Day
to get a refund

his plan was to
hock it for *****

the merchant
only offered to credit
his expired charge card

he would have to wait
to see the charge reversed
on a future months statement

no dough for *****
that day as the
automatic doors
swung open
he realized he
should have
pawned
the ring

we like to remember the days of wine of roses
we forget about the lousy days of shots and beers
the world of spirits bedevils us

do you still believe in love?
vaya con dios mi amigo

Frank Sinatra
The Days of Wine and Roses

Oakland
11/7/09