“This Is the Most I’ve Had to Say All Week” by Ellen Kimmel

Ellen Kimmel

THIS IS THE MOST I’VE HAD TO SAY ALL WEEK

I’m up late at night
watching Dragnet on Nick at Night
with no sound.
The light keeps me company.
Harold fell asleep early waiting
for me to put Rachel to sleep.
We were going to love each other.
Instead I watch toothbrushes
have conversations with each other
and an elephant swim across
an ocean to steal a can of Coke
from a woman sunning on a raft
in the middle of nowhere
not sure where we are
if we’ve gone anywhere
since we decided we needed
to go someplace.
Now Superman’s on and he’s just
turned back into an ordinary man.
This is the most I’ve had to say
all week.

from Rattle #1, 1995

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