I SAID,
BETWEEN LINES,
I WANTED HER
TO BE MY LOVER.
SHE ALREADY
HAD ONE,
SHE SAID -
NO SIGN!

AND SHE SAID,
"I'VE BEEN OUTRAGEOUS,
I'VE REALLY HURT HIM,
I PROMISED NOT TO,"
SHE SAID.

AND SHE SAID,
"I HOPE WE CAN
WORK TOGETHER,
I WANT TO BE FRIENDS."
I SMILED AT THIS.
I'VE HEARD IT BEFORE
AND AGAIN AND AGAIN,
AND SHE SMILED BACK,
AND SO WE TOO
ARE FRIENDS.
SHE SAID.

©Bruce McNicol 12/11/1986