One Attempt at Jealousy

Lauren Kaufmann

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How is your life with the other one,
simpler? One stroke from our rusted
rowboat--lighter now, by half--then
a long coastline. And soon the memory

of me is an island in the sky
(no longer in water--I'm Apollo this time)
Souls, settling for siblings,
sibings, not lovers.

How is your life with a woman
quotidian? Without scent divine?
Having forced your empress to seek
new kingdoms ( and you having resigned),

How is your life? Has your asthma become
chronic? Gasp,    when you wake up? Poor man,
how do your lungs bear this dishonor?

'I've had it, your feverish passions,
I'm migrating North.'
How is your life with another,
you, the one I chose?

Easier to chew now, your food, syrupy? Who to
blame, when ash tickles your taste buds?
How is your postcard life, penumbra!?
You, who felt the blaze atop Sinai.

How is your life with a stranger
from down there? Do you-dimmi
love her? or the rib inside?

How is life? Does your foot still cramp
when it rains? Does your hum-song
drown out the mice in your mind?

How do you live with a commodity,
bought at the highest price?
How's worshipping a plastic evergreen?

How is it, with a woman-after the Laurel?
Are you happy? No? In a mortgaged condo--
how is your life, my love? Is it as hard as mine
with another man?