list of denials--By j. lewis--United States

list of denials

i never loved you, not in any way that would last

for less than this life and into the next

you cannot depend on me for anything beyond the basics

as we've discussed so many times-

"having food and raiment, let us be content therewith"

just call everything else i give gravy, frosting, excess

i don't enjoy being around you much

for anything other than the hiking, kayaking, picture taking,

movies, shopping, impromptu dates, quiet snuggling, and other things.

or the food. oh, the food.

i simply don’t want to marry you, at least not again in this life

because that would involve separating the entity known as 'us'

dividing the conjoined twins that you and i have become

just to re-attach the two parts. that would make no sense

no sense at all

if you should ever tell someone, anyone, everyone

about this little list, i will deny that i meant

any of it as jest. it's best you leave it alone

j. lewis is an internationally published poet, musician, and nurse practitioner. When he is not otherwise occupied, he is often on a kayak, exploring and photographing the waterways near his home in California.