The Barren Ink
He retired to his study
nightly, the glass
of sherry she poured him
always in his left hand,
his books and papers
piled neatly before him
like the children they
had not wanted then
and yet yearned for now
as age began to sift
through their friends.
His written words had lost
their importance years ago,
but he poured himself
between the leaves,
each syllable a sad mystery
he unraveled sometime
before the old clock
struck ten when
it turned eleven.
It was then his mind
began to wander through
the years that he had
wasted with her deciding
whether or not she was
right or wrong for him.
Sometime before twelve
he retired, her breathing
the steadiness that kept
his heart beating though
he had never wanted
to settle for the one
who made the best
summer sandwiches.
Lego Blocks
The fish swim
in circles between
our toes as if
to sew us
back together.
Our hands
no longer connect
when we
hold them.
The child between
us needs balloons
to drift closer
to the sun
than the moon.
I forget
to pack sunscreen
regularly.
Several nights
ago I heard
you whispering
to her
in your sleep.
I pretended
that I didn’t
know the language.
You never have
bought me flowers.
I never asked
for them.
Katarina Boudreaux is a New Orleans based author, musician, dancer, and teacher. Her first novel “Platform Dwellers” is forthcoming from Owl Hollow Press. “Alexithymia” is available from Finishing Line Press and “Anatomy Lessons” from Flutter Press.
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