Liaise

Monica jogs in ovals outside the office.

Occupant stirs while gatekeepers

Fiddle with earpieces and penknives.

And us?

Occupant stretches, rises, and cleans

Against Monica’s tresses.

Makes contact with cheek that won’t

Get washed for a to-be-named period.

Monica gets excited,

Chats it up with Linda.

First words about fathers and Linda’s ex-husband,

And the recently closed Woody’s department store.

Speaking of Woody’s, a recent executive order,

More like a suggestion, had me on my knees,

For three minutes.

How often did your ex-husband wash his engine?

And us?

Monica and Linda return to chores,

Meet again to consider the long view,

And recent slights and glimpses.

We the doleful are Upromise our napes

In occupations and fluid memories,

And responsibilities.

Occupant presses Congress,

Avoids press conferences,

Presses the flesh, presses on.

And us?

We resign.