Beta Male Strategies

August 01, 2020
Listening to old pop music 
On Thursday evenings in March,
Lentils cooking for dinner, stay 
Close to me because

You’re my girl and I like to kiss you on
The elevator and hold your hand as we 
Gallop down the hallway and have sex with 
You against the hotel room door

It’s not a very sturdy door. This next 
Tune makes me think of our grandparents 
And what they’d think, grandparents 
Were young once but no one gives a shit.

I thought I had this conversation with
You but I realize now it was with 
Another girl which is what makes 
This relationship so difficult, 

Having to remember it all. I want to 
Be incapacitated and wake up in the 
Hotel room, alone in the tub, cold and 
Naked, your underwear on the floor and 

That’s the only trace of you and 
Baby I’m Bleeding, that’s the next song
But you can’t really sing along to it. 
And that’s why this’ll never work. 

I wrote pages last night 
Sitting on the floor but now they’re 
Soaked with blood and the handwriting 
Doesn’t look like mine. Like some 

Other sad man came in here and 
Replaced them. The other sad man’s your new man 
But you don’t know that yet and he has a terrible 
Haircut but at least he doesn’t make messes where 

He ought not to. Do you realize 
How many people have the same exact 
Voice as you? A collective of 
Failures with big safety nets.

Listening to old folk music, 
Driving up mountain passes, I’d 
Hold your hand but I’ve got to
Make sure we don’t drive off the 

Road. He’s got a big member and thinks 
The two of you can make some 
Trouble. Do you agree?