Home

Cup of Jo, The Times Crossword and A Yard Sale.

by Kristi Paik

at the yard sale she found another love letter
pressed and hidden between the pages of an old paperback
another story far better than hers
Deeply hidden yet most intimately present

that solemn morning coffee.she noted that no one noticed she changed her hair.

sitting across from the man whom she fears will be it for her
as he sips the dark French roast and
attempts to do the New York Times Crossword in pen
never acknowledging he lacks the intellect to get it right
her innocence is lost and
so is her good judgment

Her mind wanders; silently whispering to her:
'how sweet it would be to swing the doors open
to this house that is not good enough for you
and greet the chilled morning air and embrace
a new start, a new love, a new beginning…'

the crackling of the paper being tossed aside
set her back into reality
4 down; “Milieu of the stressed out”
she knows the answer and debates to tell him

but it may reveal far too much about her for his comfort. and perhaps for her as well.

As the endless seconds turned
to everlasting minutes
He placed his dirty cup in the sink
And went on with his daily routine

“Ragged Edge” she revealed aloud enough for him to hear and to ignore her.

Sipping that damn morning coffee
she decided to write on the next page of the paperback
Hoping to spare the next soul who falls for love letters
to take the only advice she can muster

Never trust a man with two first names.

11/11/2008

Author's Note: Ragged Edge-precariously close to loss of self-control, mental stability, etc.

Posted on 11/11/2008
Copyright © 2024 Kristi Paik

Member Comments on this Poem
Posted by Charlie Morgan on 11/11/08 at 07:47 PM

...kristi, i am a freak for the NYT and i can see it all at the yard sale, and the breakfast thingee...reminds me of a short-short story by Robert Block called "The Eyes Have It."

Posted by Chris Sorrenti on 11/11/08 at 08:25 PM

Evocative update to the romantic "leap of faith" Kristi. Good descriptiveness puts us right in to the picture and your heart.

Posted by George Hoerner on 11/11/08 at 10:21 PM

Nice reflection on a reality most people refuse to see. Sometimes we take what is in front of us knowing that things don't really change unless of course you are being beaten. Intensity is very difficult to share on a continual basis.

Posted by Kristina Woodhill on 11/12/08 at 01:30 AM

Something about the yard sale idea that is both simple and sad - hoping to find that special item for cheap, or a castaside gem like a love letter. In fact I can see a whole other poem adding to the yard sale idea. I do like how that is brought to the table and the crossword puzzle just completes the picture. Well done.

Return to the Previous Page
 

pathetic.org Version 7.3.2 May 2004 Terms and Conditions of Use 0 member(s) and 2 visitor(s) online
All works Copyright © 2024 their respective authors. Page Generated In 0 Second(s)