It’s another summer night.
There is nothing to do.
Herbert sits in his chair
Reading the newspaper
While I, listlessly,
Play a one-handed chopsticks.
I am bored silly.
I ask Herbert if he would like to take a walk in the park
And he says no, the park is too dangerous.
I ask him if he would like to walk down to the
Corner drugstore for an ice ream cone.
He says no, too many calories.
Would he like to play a game of cards?
I ask
and he says no, and do I mind
He’s trying to read the paper
and do I have any understanding of
the stock market and what it’s doing?
Admittedly, I know nothing about
the stock market.
In a burst of enthusiasm I say to him
“We could go upstairs and have wild sex!”
To which he gives me a frosty glare.
“It’s NOT Saturday!” he exclaims.
I wonder, if I had an affair,
would Herbert even notice?
Except–
Who would bring him the paper
and his slippers
and cook his dinner?
Come to think of it,
Even a maid could do all that.
Sandra Lee Smith
April 25 2009/Updated May, 2018