Other Women

He encounters her daily, 

on the streets, 

the television, 

at the pool,
in bars, airports, 

laundromats and supermarkets.

Sometimes she is brunette, 

other times blonde, 

recurrently Asian, Latina 

or African-American.  

Once, she was a blind concert pianist.

Always lively and aloof 

with an irreverent smile

and hips that swing 

to the devil's groove.  

He imagines their life together:

    days sparked with high adventure, 

    rapturous nights 

    of fellowship and fucking, 

    vacations on the Coast of Mexico.  

It would not be work.

She would prepare breakfast for him 

and tend to her garden on weekends.

She would have her own money, 

an inheritance from a birth father 

possessed of the grace to pass away 

before their engagement.

There would be few arguments 

between them,
and she would respect the Artist, 

careful not to distract him 

with trivial matters 

such as house cleaning 

or automotive repair.

He would call her, Mi Dama Amante, 

and dedicate his works to her.

But for her fixation 

with ceramic lawn gnomes, 

she would be flawless.

The meddling midget devils.

He cannot stand them

posted like sentinels about the lawn, 

scrutinizing every movement.

Even her younger sister agrees, 

the gnomes are a peculiar fetish.

The sister lives in West Hollywood, 

teaches yoga,

and dances professionally.

She laughs at his jokes.  

He thinks of her often,

convinced he is adrift 

without her.

**First published in Bluing the Blade, and winner of the "Bragi Poetry Award" at Tempered Runes Press.