I
While I’m
confessing,
I should also
tell you

that the lox
which you’d
intended to serve
as an appetizer

this evening:
that’s gone too.
Mea culpa.

II
And boy, those
vine-ripened
tomatoes sure were
good: so juicy

and still warm
from the sun.
Hope you
don’t mind.

I would have
saved you one
but I was

feeling a
bit peckish.
So sue me!

III
The Ben & Jerry’s
Cherry Garcia ice-
cream was the
perfect way to

end the meal.
I know you
said that
it’s your

favorite, but
you should
thank me:

you’ve really
started to
put on weight.

— apologies (& thanks)
to Kenneth Koch