“I don’t come here often.” The birds are light-dappledThe bench damp from early morning showers “Our kids go to the same school.” The trees are dripping brightThe air as sweet as candy “I’ve see you there…looking sad.”“You should smile more often.”“It looks good on you.”“Let’s set up a date.” A playdate? “No. Well, that too,…

You’ll get used to it, honey.No, we can change that.Anything you want. There’s no reason to be sad.It’s just that you have two rooms, now. Well, we can’t get that right now, sweetheart.We can’t go back to Mommy’s house.Not right now. Don’t cry, baby. This is your room, too!I promise you’ll get used to it.Please…

Some places have a certain smellThe gymnasium when I was youngLike tin and sweat – a scent that makesMe anxious and excited A field before a soccer gameFresh grass, and the air of success This courtroom has a smellIt’s the first one I’ve ever been inWhat pains await me on the far sideOf its sense…

I wish I was a better man.I would bargain for itwith Mephistopheles – clutch hisoffered claw in mine.With no irony, I would ask thisof God if I was only capableof admitting to myself that…that…That it’s my fault.All of it.It was me from the start, wanting otherwomen, thinking of ways to convince youthat it wasn’t so…

Mommy and Daddy love you very much. This isn’t your fault, baby. No, no, it has nothing to do with that. Sometimes it happens. People change, they stop feeling – No, sweetheart, no. I’ll always love you. Always! It’s different. You’ll understand when you’re older. Nothing happened. You heard that? It’s not what you think.…

I’m sorry.That’s the thing we sayLike automatons mis-remembering the meaning It used to be I Love You.Even when we’d say other wordsSimple wordsThey’d mean I Love You, same as if we said itSaid it every time our lips were apart from each otherEvery time they parted To have a time – A long time –…

We did that thingLet all the pieces get bentForgot to see the birds beneath the cloud cover We smudged the paper and the inkLet wide, swelling resentments into the cracks We made a personal warCastigated with half-truthsAnd struck with full, swollen fists We waited when we should’ve actedStayed quiet when we should’ve spokenTurned away when…