JULIA GOROSZENIUK

A Portrait Painted Scarfless

you promised me

an explosion of lateness;

you

digging for your tie

your collar stuck up like tail feathers;

me

coiling my scarf

importuning your tousled bed

for my watch

while you

pull on that ridiculous

sock.

you promised me the bewildered twilight of your room.

you promised me snow;

our penguin situation,

all straight lines pared down

to white,

and us,

our foggy Cava Glass

a Moet stand-in,

our eyes braced

against all that space.

you promised me over the ticket barrier;

you promised me the lapels of your coat.

and,

unpromised,

you gave me your honest cold hand

and I made it mine.