do they laugh at him
he wonders
in the darkness
of their bodies
covered with a
blanket of shame
and desecration

do they laugh
or even speak his name
as they writhe
like snakes
tangled together
in knots
like a dolly
pulled out of the
bathtub
her hair left to dry
on the ledge

do they joke and play
silly word games with
deeper meanings
to demonize him
and put him out
of the light
where he was so faithful
and into the fire
where it is easier
to poke and prod
at his burning members

the cuckold takes another
drag of his cigarette
and smashes the wedding photo
on the hardwood floor
where the glass shatters
and gets into everything

he puts on his slippers
the ones she gave him
for father’s day
and he picks up the broom
to sweep up the mess
that she has made

alone again
another night of sitting
the girls are asleep
the air conditioner hums
the wine sits patiently
in my glass

alone again
cars come and go
down the street
a dog barks
music is playing
and people laugh
together

alone again
the lights are off
except a few
to save on electricity
and the laundry
is piled on the floor
but that’s as far
as it gets
tonight

alone again
waiting for the night
to take me
to put me under
to help me forget
all the nights
i have sat here
waiting
for no-one
to come

alone again
with my memories
and my aches
sipping wine
while i stare
at nothing

alone again
why must i be
alone again
all my lovers
have faded away
into the mist
where i cannot
follow
or even find
my way

alone again
and lonely this time
just one conversation
and a whiff of her perfume
would fill my
lonely mind
with a thousand smiles
and i should not be
alone again
for a while

like a little red ruby
my heart burned for you
and for a little while
we burned together
red and hot and real

like a little red ruby
our love gave birth
to children of the stars
burning so brightly
they light our way
in this dark world

like a little red ruby
the fire consumed us
body mind and soul
and we were burned
to the core

like a little red ruby
our hearts turned to stone
and the pain
drove us deep
into the ground
dark and cold
and alone

like a little red ruby
we were discovered
once so lost
in the night
now we shine
in the full light of day

and like a little red ruby
we are free
to shine on
once more