specular
we had argued that morning about cleaning,
but by tea-time once again we were friends.and
waiting. for the car to come take us -
separate places in the end - we hadn't known.
you on the bed with your pin striped trousers and
your powder pink top, wrist dangling off the
edge with its spice girls watch. and me
on the sofa, strumming the guitar you bought me
at the house-clearance and singing carols,
hoping you'll join in.

at the garage - refreshment stop - i stole you two
lemon tarts - one of which you nibbled and put back in the white
paper bag

minutes later we were back on the road and then
off - careening down the banking into mud.
you would have laughed to have seen me so
splattered, jackson pollock redesigning my face,
you would have laughed.

*   *  *  *   *  *

you would have laughed, jackson pollock redesigning
my face, careening down the banking into mud and then off -
back on the road minutes later.

lemon tarts - one of which you nibbled and put back in
the white paper bag. at the garage. refreshment stop.

on the sofa - strumming the guitar you bought me at
the house-clearance, singing carols, hoping you'll join
in. you on the bed with your pin striped trousers and your
powder pink top, wrist dangling off the edge with its
spice girls watch. waiting for the car to come take us -
separate places in the end, we hadn't known.
by tea-time once again we were friends.
we had argued that morning about cleaning.