All afternoon they’ve taken turns talking.
One of them speaks while the other

understands. Each undressing
the other’s life. The two of them

think they can do this forever.
But it’s nobody’s fault

when the porch light comes on.
It’s late October. It’s bound to get dark

sooner than it used to. It can’t
be helped. Just like no one can loosen

the knots in the wrought iron
table his in-laws gave him.

 

Photo: Table, July 2011 by Michael Sissons