Poem: Templates for the Long Married

Templates for the Long Married

Why go through it all again
the same old same same old tedious arguments
turned on & off like Days of Our Lives
arguments about stinking socks, sour milk
unpaid Comcast bills, no wifi how could you
simply list the arguments on a spreadsheet
assign them each a number &
call them out them as needed
62.25 I announce
he knows he needs to water the lawn
or spend a lumpy night on the couch
745.7 he says
dog pee on the Persian carpet
your turn to clean it up
all in civilized tones
polite shades of pink
no residual resentment
no stewing & sulking
233.98 I whisper
you fuck-witted fool
449.6 he sighs
get over your sorry-ass self