The Bachelor
The Bachelor
Rain makes the river lascivious.
The bachelor hired hand notices this.
He once embraced a woman
The way the water embraces the trees —
Totally. But all longing left him long ago.
He hadn’t even realized he was lonely before
The morning the dog appeared at his door.
“Oh hi you miserable thing you.”
Years later, she gives him a look he recognizes
To be a look of permission.
He has felt the tumors along her spine,
Knows his loneliness is not worth her suffering.
He gives her some venison and lets her eat
Most of it before he shoots her,
Then buries her on the hillside
So the river won’t walk all over her grave.
As for him, he will live a long time,
Longer than he would have said
He thought he would
Were there anyone there to ask him.