Alter Ego
Barry North
Just when I think
I’m done with you forever
you pop back up again -
like the other night
at the crawfish boil -
wearing those stupid horn-rimmed glasses
and that famous shit-eating grin.
Not wanting to face the truth,
I stared at you all night
as though you were a stranger.
I watched you
kiss that blonde’s ass
for hours,
and when she
sent you after ice
for her ice chest,
you not only bought it,
you lugged
the twenty pound bag
all the way from the store
without a whimper.
I wanted to get up in your face and scream:
“You can’t be a rug
unless you lie down.”
But I couldn’t bear
to see you smile
and shrug your shoulders,
willing to do anything
to avoid a confrontation.