Catherine Smith
Keepsakes
Each time it’s something, slipped inside her bag. At first
she keeps it simple - a marble from the solitaire board,
the innards of his pen, a sock, yellowed with sweat.
One night she hears him singing in the bath, and removes
used plasters from the heels of his trainers. She pats him dry
when he’s done, sucks water from the wet snakes of his hair.
She rubs his shoulders. When he takes a lover’s call in bed
she slips into his study, removes the polished alabaster egg
that weights girls’ numbers to his desk. When she returns
he’s sleeping, the white sheets stained and creased
as a bride’s gown on a wedding night. Going through his bin
she finds fresh toe-nail clippings and receipts for flowers.
She dresses to the slow beat of his breathing. At home
she empties out her bag and shapes him on her bed -
flower-receipt eyes, sock prick, alabaster heart.
Page(s) 38
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