we were bone tired
of endless miles on the road
so long we’d stopped talking
there was nothing else to say today
& I pulled in to a mom & pop
side of the road tired 1star French hotel
we looked & took the room
what else were we gonna do?
I washed my face cooled my hands
& we made it down the dark stairs
past the tall brown stuffed bear
looking at sculptures made of spoons
with a ladle mixed in here & there
the food was good served hot & slow
we ate in silent appreciation
still looking at the spoons everywhere
then up past the rotting bear
sitting amongst the wallpapered ceiling
fighting the fleas hovering our feet
sucking on wine in toothmugs
letting in feelings to bring my heart alive
no tv no radio just an open window
& you sitting there worn out beat
head against the pillow half smile
& then the crashing of pots & pans
madame ripping into monsieur hard
we crept to the window to see the show
as a frying pan slid down the kitchen wall
& any thoughts of tomorrow were gone
like today what we needed to would be done
as she screamed again the dauphinoise
missiled past his ears out into the dark
& you know as well as we do
we never found la Maison again
caught sight of the stuffed rotting bear
in the middle of those brown creaky stairs
saw the sculptures of silver spoons
or that over-wallpapered room
nor found out if Monsieur et Madame
got their second honeymoon
neilbenbow 