Undrunk

'Red Heel' | w.va. | may 2010 | douglas imbrogno

UNDRUNK

Is how
I prefer
you.

I’m just
saying.
Nothing

more than
that,
my dear.

This is
no judgment.
Nor, god

knows, an
argument.
We, too, after

all,
were
intoxicated

with our
usual
emendation.

It’s the
sloppy talk
that makes me

want to slouch
outside in
streetlamp calm.

Fixing on
the crescent moon.
Its mouth agape

transfixed by Venus,
a pale fire flickering
the darkling heaven.

from “What I Meant to Say,” by Cardinal Crowe (The WestVirginiaVille Press)