Trimmings

The long day softens,

and just as my body begins

to ease its beseeching,

her family arrives—

her mother’s heartless fingernails,

The long day softens,

and just as my body begins

to ease its beseeching,

her family arrives—

her mother’s heartless fingernails,

her little brother’s fury,

Grandpa Harry’s penis joke,

and, fresh from smoking

weed out by the garbage cans,

her sister, careening, her attempt

to kiss me on the mouth,

stumbling, falling onto the kitchen floor—

Thanksgiving!