by Allan Lake
He reminds her of his open door policy.
Free to go anytime. Says he’d pay
her airfare to anywhere if need be.
Climate change, glacial break-up.
Both previously locked onto someone;
neither would have that again. Still,
anyone can be a pain in the axiomatic.
She misses distant sun-soaked Sicily,
would like to be near family, soak up
warmth while sipping wine on a balcony.
He looks forward to intercourse with
ravens while walking into frosty
Tasmanian rainforest, into star-filled,
chilly night. No child, cat, dog or debt.
Free to go. Not a hint of anger.
With her key she would never scratch
parting memo on his shiny black car
as addendum to time invested/wasted.
They are bound by spidery threads:
whim, inertia, lack of foresight –
all the above plus animal love.