Quiet is kept.
The safe it is kept in
requires five tuns of the dial.
The man who knows the combination
knows his wife is sleeping
with his best friend.
He believes his best friend is after
the five numbers
and not his wife’s affection.
He doubts his wife knows the five numbers
but doubt cuts both ways—
what if she does.
The man knows his best friend
has never gotten him drunk
or recklessly waved guns around.
The quiet he values so much
he now rarely takes out of the safe.
His turbulent mind suffers.
copyright © 2022 Kenneth P. Gurney
Umflop 