I was shocked when she died
I always thought I would go first.
I was faithful even after forty years.
of our mundane marriage.

I know she did not love me
In fact I know I did not love her.
You are besotted with Anabel
She said so many times.

But Anabel was married
almost as long as I was.

I never lied and said
it was not true
Because it was.

After she passed away
Anabel's husband left her
He moved to the west coast
and played lounge piano
In a bar.

She came over to see me
Not carrying a *** of stew
Or a cake
like the other lonely vultures.

She was so beautiful
So much what
I had always wanted
Well it's time she said.
They both have gone.

She looked
so beautiful to me.
Kiss me honey
she purred.
I held her close to me.
Too close
Her softness
was beyond my limits.

I placed my lips
close to hers.
A fire burned in me
Like nothing before.
It was need and want.
covered in gasoline
And a match
applied igniting
an inferno.

Then on the mantle
I saw her picture
the one when
we got married.
She was so
beautiful then.
I am sure it
smiled at me.

I pulled away
from Anabel.
A magnet
that had held me
for nearly forty years.
And I started to weep
I realized after
Losing her.
I loved my wife
beyond belief.