When did you find out about the divorce?
To boil water
You must fill the pot
Careful, you can’t spill
You might slip
What did they tell you?
Steadily, walk toward
The stove top
Don’t splash, gently set your
Pot on the burner.
Wait, What?
Turn the burner on
The flame should
Burst from the silver cage
Water will boil
What did you do?
The water’s too hot
It boils too much
It’s overflowing
Rushing into the flame
The flame fights back
Pouncing on the water
Steam clouds engulf the pot
The water sizzles down the sides
Are you okay?
Fumbling forward
Reaching for the knob
Burning my hand
Against the stove top
Slowly the water calms
My hand burns
Running it under the cold water
Cold cools the pain
Do you know what’s going to happen?
The pain is gone
But it will return
You can’t run you hand
Under cold water forever.