The Tomato-coloured Couch 6:47pm
I was That 37 Year-old
with The New Haircut
back from Pass
— why was I even in There?
Because I thought
I was The Second Coming of Christ
wearing A Sign on My Blouse
“Waiting To Be Believed”
with A Helium Balloon tied
to My Very Thin Wrist
being told by Nurses
to take off My “inappropriate” Sign
& My Balloon
so They would agree
to talk to Me
The Tomato-coloured Couch 7:15pm
When My First Husband told Me
He Loved Me
I wore a floral summer dress
to receive My Canadian Citizenship
He was renting a room
outside of Halifax
for a movie job
— He was a Master Carpenter —
I stayed the night with Him
— brought The Children —
in the sparse house of a Scientologist
— the only books were Scientology —
in the dark, quietly
with Eliza in Her portable crib
& Peak on a spare bed
I heard “I Love You”
in My Left Ear
The Tomato-coloured Couch 7:47pm
In My Royal Purple Velour Blazer
by Vince Cumoto, size 8
My Ultra Skinny Simon Chang
Black Denim Leggings, size 8
My College Made In Canada
Black Ankle Boots, size 8
With My Mother’s Island House Sale Present
to My Self:
My BIRK’S Sterling Esty Swirl Bangle
On My Left Forearm
With My BIRK’S Gold Dagger in My Right Fist
I Will Defend My Silver Shower
To The Death
Joanna Gilman Hyde 