Kiss

Marianna curls her hands

Around his arm, and she pulls,

An imploring gesture,

But it would mean nothing

Without the look

Burning in her eyes,

Like the bonfire she's remembering

From their wedding night.

---

George is avoiding her pleas,

And he watches the door, wishing

That it had its own mind

To open. He could walk through

And never have to think

About Marianna, the way she lotions

Her hands every morning

Just for him.

---

She caresses his arm again, and frees

Their tangled mess of limbs

And lies. He kisses her cheek vaguely

And leaves without his bags.

Marianna takes them with her

As she travels up the stairs.

Before she sleeps, she thinks of

George

And kisses his suitcases goodnight.