Part 1

Sometimes she wears makeup to bed
to look pretty for the man that
shows up in her dreams.

And sometimes she wishes that he
would remember her birthday one year
(or today)
before he falls asleep beside her.

And sometimes she counts the tears
as she thinks about who would care
if she was gone.

And sometimes she waits alone at night
on her porch with the hope that he
will come down and sit by her side.

And sometimes she twirls the rope
around her fingers and hands,
tying, untying, and retying just in case.

And sometimes he stumbles through
the bedroom doors at all hours
and expects everything all over.

And sometimes she sits in the dark at
the kitchen table with a tumbler and ice and
a half empty bottle staring her in the face.

And sometimes she thinks about
how sorry she is for whatever she did
to deserve this life.

And sometimes she realizes that
it's a question that will remain unanswered.