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Two Sugars
by Aurelio Rico Lopez III
Roselyn brings my brewed coffee
And two sugars.
She avoids looking at me
And clears the next table.
Through a thin veil of steam from my cup,
I watch her.
A drop of sweat
Runs down the side of her face
Along her smooth tanned skin.
She moves gracefully
Taking orders
Exchanging quick words with customers.
Occasionally, she graces them
With a weary smile,
The best she can offer.
I pay for my coffee
And Roselyn’s fingers brush mine
As I hand her a five.
She avoids looking at me.
I arrive home and the kids
Have gone to bed.
My wife snores softly beneath the sheets.
I shed off my clothes
And stand under the shower,
Hissing as water comes
In contact with the angry laceration
On my chest.
Her bite has healed remarkably well
As I suspect the others will,
In time.
The water does little to wash away
My burden.
Tears swirl down the drain
Into blackness
Into pipes to God knows where.
Inside Roselyn’s womb,
The baby stirs.
© Lopez, 2007
Aurelio Rico Lopez III hails from Iloilo City, Philippines. His poetry has been featured in various publications and zines such as Mythic Delirium, Tales of the Talisman, Dark Animus, Black Petals, Sybil's Garage, Electric Velocipede, and Down in the Cellar. He is also the author of the chapbooks JOLTS and SHOCKS (Sam's Dot Publishing). You may contact him at thirdylopez2001@yahoo.com