Start of Negotiation

I meant to speak
better and more honest words
to the woman I loved.

She saw through my efforts
to not live alone for the rest of my life
and restlessly shifted in her chair

until she asked
what was in my plan for her
and her future.

That sparked my static desperation
to flare up into full blown fire
so my next honest words

were blackened with bad mood
that dripped like a syrupy pancake
held between two fingers.

She wordlessly sat
waiting for deciding
to take place inside my brain

and offer up a verbal blue print
that could be more of a sketch
with hand printed dimensions.

After drawing a blank on a white piece of paper
she took pen to page
and added a bright blue bullet point list.

copyright © 2022 Kenneth P. Gurney