Breakfast Out
It was 5:30 AM and
the sun was rising
when at last
he comes in
late even for a
night shift
driving cab
and she,
awkward in her
seventh month
of pregnancy,
stays silent
when
he points
to the shirts
she hasn’t yet
ironed since
she has no answer
and watches then
as he goes to pee
before
he comes back
to climb into
their bed
where he
turns
his face away
and puts his
back
to her
miming sleep
and so
when she sees
Chickie’s address
written on
the trip sheet
she knows
and takes herself
out and across
the icy street to
the little breakfast joint
that is always open
early, its front
windows already
steamy
but she isn’t
she is shivering
and the guy
who
works behind
the
counter
and kind
of knows her
brings her coffee
without her
asking
and smiles
at her saying
you know
you
shouldn’t
cry
when
you’re carrying
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