a pass over dinner

she is not hungry 

but i am starving

may be it is her cold or

 a medical side effect 

that she waves off  dinner for

 no gifting each other selfless generosity

for she has lost her appetite

and there is nothing more to mention

left eating alone in the shadow of love

leftover affections

with no sense of taste or smell

no sense at all but 

put the wine glasses back

 fix a box lunch for a moving train 

 pulling out of the station

bearing the strain of revocation

losing  weight in an unpalatable way

artichoke hearts missing beets

once the apple of your eye

in need of a slap on the back 

to cough up a choking pit...
tell me

how can i eat  
without my appetizer

how can i go on

with one who only kneads my bread

leaves me unleavened on the table

under a fork and knife

on a napkin damped with tears

why on this night 

do we slump in our seats

with distant stares?

why do i bleat like a sacrificial lamb

 in a marriage blind to romance

left alone like a shank bone

April 3, 2018
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