Poetry
Frank and his Wife
C. A. Conrad
Frank and his wife
sat at the dinner table
baked and glazed
the ham stood from the platter
demanded prayer
clean hands
a kind speech in his honor
"DON'T LOOK AT MY LIFE FROM
THE CORNER OF YOUR EYE!" the ham hollered
they begged forgiveness
and honored his requests
the ham grunted
as their knives pulled him apart
he wiggled and smoothed out
sighing on their tongues
Frank kissed the naked bone
over and over
held it to the sunlight kissing it
the bone purred all night
from the foot of the bed