Always Messing with them Boys
Jessica Helen Lopez            BACK      NEXT

The Room Upstairs

It is a lonely bottle night
me and my cigarettes
my dogs
the smoke chokes the carpet
in her bed
our daughter is sleeping
like you do
all underwear
and no blanket
you curled up a
man‐sized fetus on the couch
it is a declaration of your independence
I wish you were here
I am glad you are not
you strangle me
even in your sleep
even from downstairs
me in my safe haven on the second floor
divided by fourteen steps
and all of the world

our unspoken guilt
our brilliant arrogance

The empty stairwell tells of our separation
this mini divorce
we marry
we cleave
I gave birth to you
but you are not my child
and we know not the
pact of unconditional love

maybe by Wednesday
we will meet again

until then
I am proud Cuba
and you a stubborn embargo

the expanse of the Atlantic Ocean
is made of fourteen steps
twenty cigarettes
and two bottles of lonely
lukewarm beer

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