Retired
they don’t sleep
at night
they don’t wake up
in the morning
in late afternoon
they shuffle
there’s nothing
new in the paper
or on the tube
they’ve lived it
there’s nothing in the store
they’ve bought it
there’s no need for pills
they’re used to it
to this ache that never wanes
inside their shells
they’ve only just met
at the dime drugstore
and shared a milkshake
and held hands
and traded rings
and bought a house
and found the bedroom
their favorite room
and babies were born
and work was work
and children grew up
and they grew old
and the pilot light went out
and the night drew long
the wait unbearable
and they can’t even scream
they’re too tired to talk
they don’t sleep
at night
they don’t wake up
in the morning
in late afternoon
they shuffle
TL