The Scraggly Apple
is Dead Butt Eye am Alive
to know It fully
I had a dream
of a house, my house
on an island
with a row of carrots
planted by the back
and the Eastern Sun
out front
and a man I could call
my own — well
he says he’s not in my life
he will not leave his wife
and so must I salvage
my second marriage
in some capacity
or should I, could I
be Independent?
Husband turned Me down
for the holiday weekend —
My Bed is for Me
Eye bought Silver Satin Sheets
for The Man Eye Cannot Have
but made My Bed with old
brown flannel bottom
and holy cream top
for The Man Who Is My Husband
The Image of Black
is receding
I have lost My Jet Black Beads given to Me by My Mother
given to My Star Dust Lover
of another era
Eye have withdrawn Knife
from the centre of Black Rose:
slow-mo pulsation
Over pink carnations
she suggested sparingly:
give yourself away
Dr Blair, on the night of August 14, 1999
Eye made you sign a contract for sex.
Eye would like to renew that contract,
update it by 19 years to include
hotel, food, gas, all extraneous expenses
+ $500.00 upfront per 24 hour period
of My Companionship.
Is this too much to ask for the continuation
of what was a marriage based
solely on sexuality?
Audacious Husband
refuses to pay for sex
after eighteen years
Joanna Gilman Hyde 