38 degree heat wave,
we seal the back door
from the dust; silica
from cut stones; the orange cat
is killing baby rats again
when he unhinges his jaw,
they fall, run squeaking
across the floor to rest
under the electric heater
Dead rats: things I need a husband for
My goal this year
is to learn to drive a car
I drive from Tweed to Pakenham
Just follow the white line, white line
I still don’t trust myself on the turns
not to touch the thin metal side
of semi trucks when
They curve around hot hayfields
I’m waiting for my phone to die
On top of the magazine that reads
Fall trend report
2.
Thought of a great joke
While having sex
The drapes drawn
a/c on, we decided to forget
the to-do list and drive to Inisfil
to the beach. everything takes longer
in a heat wave, except my hair
dries in 3 minutes
How long is
too long to keep the cat out?
3.
The Financial Post headline reads
“Loonie’s Ascent Not Over Yet”
My nails are chipped Cloud
Yesterday we took
our bathing suit bottoms
Off in Lake Simcoe
While Alex talked about Mongolia
As a safe haven from relationships
how she hasn’t found
love so she’ll find the
world
More ambitious, anyhow
4.
I’ve become somebody
Who works out
T.’s IVF failed, she said, between
Leg-lifts and prison squats
Do it Now, don’t wait.
If you’re life won’t be complete without kids
Just figure out how to do it
And do it now.
Then we are told to jump
side to side
Mock boxing punches right to left
With weights gripped in palms
What does it mean that your life
is or isn’t complete?
I bike down Howland on
the turquoise bicycle
Maybe my life would be
great without kids
I think of Lorna and Patrick
How free they are to do hallucinogens in Peru
At the age of 70
Write ten books in a decade
Garden elaborately
They still have great love
Which is more ambitious anyhow