1. Quandry<\/p>\n
We go over there in the rain:
\nthey hug us smiling at the door
\nand we enter handing over the wine
\nand it hits us:
\nsmell of burning brass brake linings
\nor something caustic and carbonized.<\/p>\n
2. Paradox<\/p>\n
Their house is beautiful:
\npastels and art and good taste
\nand wonderful food
\nthat we can hardly taste:
\ntaste is mainly nasal; we smell food
\nwhich here competes with burned tar.
\nHe ducks into the kitchen for a smoke.<\/p>\n
3. Relief<\/p>\n
I duck out briefly for a gasp of
\nfresh air: it is raining, cool;
\nI huddle against the outside near the door
\nfurtive, like a smoker taking a drag
\nof rejuvenating air.<\/p>\n
4. Competition<\/p>\n
Inside again, I note the fireplace
\nis burning merrily gnoshing on oxygen
\nthat I would dearly like to breathe;
\nWindows are sealed against the weather
\nI am soon dizzy again.<\/p>\n
5. Observations<\/p>\n
They both sound hoarse
\nhave little catchy coughs
\nwithered skin, sallow eyes
\ndisappear into another room
\nat least once per hour.<\/p>\n
6. Conversation<\/p>\n
That night, we both toss in bed
\nwired by the alien chemicals
\nin our lungs and bloodstream
\nfighting for supremacy against
\nhypochondria and incipient
\nlung cancer.
\nAnd see their pouchy eyes.<\/p>\n
1. Quandry<\/p>\n
We ring the doorbell
\nbundled in scarves and heavy coats . . . .<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
1. Quandry We go over there in the rain: they hug us smiling at the door and we enter handing over the wine and it hits us: smell of burning brass brake linings or something caustic and carbonized. 2. Paradox … Continue reading