THE TELLING

I met a woman in the street    she

told me the whole story    I said

yes yes    then I told her the

whole story    she said unbelievable

then I turned the corner    there

was John    he said    but how did that

little family suddenly vanish

then walking walking we met

Elsa    she said what’s wrong with

you two    you know the whole

story    first the boy    then him

then her    then that was that    but

they were just here John cried    on

Seventh Avenue standing talking    John

I said that was years ago    no no

no said Elsa    No said John    oh

shut up both of you    I said

they’re gone