top of page
A Sunday Afternoon
We’re coasting along
just drifting down the river
when one of our clothes
gets caught in the brambles
and they scratch our skin
and we bleed
And argue
who was rowing
and why don’t we stay
in the center of the river
and argue.
Now the currents are swifter
and the journey more bumpy
which makes us frightened
We argue about
whether the couple
in the boat behind
can hear us arguing
or perhaps they have a band aid
to stop the bleeding
but you don’t like
asking people for help
do you?
By the time the bleeding stops
you’re cold and wet and hungry
and I’ve lost one of the oars
and the boat’s going round and round
and the mooring dock is drifting past
And we’re heading downstream
to where the currents are even swifter
the brambles more thorny
arguing and blaming
all sunburned and red
Until eventually we spin out
into a broad flat pond
on the banks are tables
with self-help books
“Manage Your Own Canoe” and
“How to Argue Constructively”
and behind the tables
sit the marriage counselors
rubbing their hands
They’re booked up today
so come back next week
and next month
and next year
In the end we get wise
buy ourselves an inflatable garden pool
some deck chairs,
two self-help books
one for you and one for me
© Johnmichael Simon
2007
.
bottom of page