File it away: (poem)

Martha was born
on March 28
(the Day of the Child
in the Week of Innocence)
which makes her
an Aries, fiery,
like my mother.

Leigh thought
that made her
a Gemini, like me.

He returned my call later,
after sending me straight
to voice mail, responded
to my laughing plea of
Where the hell are you?
I need to talk
about The West Wing
The drama! but he
only told me about Martha
having something in common
with his leaking tire.
(Except he called her
“the ex.” X. ecks.)
He said she can’t
make a decision
to save her life,
that she’s losing air
as quickly as his tire.
And I wonder why
he’s called me back
to talk about her,
and remember
he’s a Leo, born
on the Day of the Double
Agent, the Week of Balanced
Strength. Sneaky. Like
he couldn’t take my call
in front of her, but he’s more
than able to spend
his time with me
sliding her name
through his lips.


I’m in a weird
place tonight, he
finally said, abrupt.
I have to be up
in five hours
cuz that’s when
the water is best.
I want to remind him
I was born on the Day
of the Entertainer
in the Week of New
Language, which makes me
a daughter of the Air, faithless
to waves. But I’ll remember
what he’s said, I think.

I’ll file it all away.