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