Around that time is when  you told me
I prefer pale skinned women
as opposed to me, I'm a little bit too olive for
your tastes, atlas shrugged and geometric circle
tattoos
I would get a heart, right below my thumb
how juvenile, you're thinking

and you described your father's death behind your house,
how Wendy's voice broke your silence, but you
were so calm and that night you made Basil Palmiers, a little
too flaky, with a cigar amidst the coroner who spoke
hush hush

as if you couldn't take the news, a devastated son cooking dinner,
the wine,
magnificent.