the bargain

[thisnewday]

the little boy
is at his mom's:
 
she's bargained
with my son

to have him
overnight;

i've struck a bargain
of my own:
 
the well-oiled
furnace runs,

the welcome mat
is beaten clean

and hangs,
defeated,

on the fence.
and in this

empty time
i've drunk my fill

of oleander (white)
and wine

so that
all the careful

parts of me
are numbed
 
and on this
empty night

i feel i'm
once more ready
 
(for
at least

a moment
or so)

to take my chances
on the road...

LPK
10.2.2009 (a)