what does it mean
when a man says
I love you
the little girl asks

it is meaningless
her mother replies

she picks up
her phone
and reads
his message:
darling,
arrived in Shanghai,
hot and rainy,
busy schedule,
can’t call every day,
see you
next week

she sighs
and wipes
a tear
from her cheek
as she remembers
smelling
the other woman’s
perfume
when he kissed her
on his return
from Shanghai

I see
you smile
when you
talk to
your cat

I sense
your joy
when you
look into
her eyes

I feel
your love
when you
gently call
her name

I wonder
why I never
see you
talking to people
with so much
passion and joy

sleep
he
says

I am not tired
she
responds

whatever
I attempt
is discredited

whenever
I try to help
I am pushed away

if whatever
I do
is wronged
why
am I still doing it

you can
do it
he demands

I can
do it
she responds

why do you
not do it
impatiently
he asks

I am not
encouraged
invitingly
she smiles

waiting for the day
when all the leaves are coloured
expectation of joy