Last night, you were cutting toenails
(mine not yours)
This morning, preparing my special cup of coffee
the only one I drink in a day
You drink yours all day from a Thermos
—blackened —oily —lukewarm
Making my single cup you spill the milk
(oat beverage alternative, actually)
And you are late to leave for work
cleaning it
Placing the single cup of coffee at the bedside,
you say “I love you” then you go
Did you know the word uxor means wife in Latin?
"Submissive" is considered a simile —before "devoted"
and therefore, Uxor overly so
Yet, there is no singular equivalent for a woman controlled by her husband
Except, of course –wife
Summer, 2024
