Poems by Jill Kelly

ADDRESSING THE RELATIONSHIP

212 Stratford
Where the old grime was so thick
We painted right over it
And I took to driving the freeway
When we argued

213 Stratford
A room in the back for the office
Tapestry on the speakers
You made the money
I kept reluctant house

219 Stratford
I dropped a carton of eggs
In the shag-carpeted kitchen
You didn’t find it funny like I did
Long periods of silence

107 Sul Ross
A nice house, a nice yard
Grown-up living, grown-up drinking
You confessed your first adultery
I began having blackouts

PO Box 612, North Umpqua Hwy
A year in the woods on unemployment checks
Too much bourbon, too much sleep
We talk of marriage
Miraculously we let the impulse drop

3415 Bertlesen Rd
One last try
Grad school, real estate
My turn to cheat
I took the cats, you kept the dogs

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THE HARD STEP

Start with the step you don’t want to take
The no thank you
The I quit
The I’m leaving

Start with the step you don’t want to take
The bourbon poured down the sink
The candy tossed in the trash
The credit cards clipped in half

Start with the step you don’t want to take
The paints and brushes put to use
The first chapter typed
The tango danced on the sidewalk

Start with the step you don’t want to take
The I was wrong
The we can work this out
The I love you