Kristin Abraham

The Affair

(Winter)

I

Living with me must have been
like living with one rule begging.

A set, you said,
is sacred. But one

was me begging
don't,

you having to
break.

II

Living with you was
an asking for over and over

a sudden unreliability
like bursting tires on the highway

(I said please too much--
didn't say it enough)

We sputtered, skidded,
pulled to the side.

I listened for the truth.
I wanted to.