I did not, would not, could not say no
Therein lies the impossible power of attachment
I pulled you close
Looked into your eyes
You laughed, yet you were quite unable
To look back into mine
I sat naked
As we dined
On the waterside terrace
Of my ex-wife’s sprawling cottage
You told of vacations
I began to understand
You ate easily of the anchovies
I struggled to find more abundant supplies
It was indeed unexpected for a neighbour to intrude
With pointless talk, endless conversation
Of troubles found
Here, at home & also beyond the Horn of Africa