Counterpoint

Rhythmically different but harmonically intertwined

Mary

My fingers tap

a two-beat rhythm,

echoing

in the quiet car.

Mark’s fingers drum

counterpoint,

creating

an odd effect.

I wonder if he’s doing it

on purpose, to avoid

having

to talk to me,

If he regrets that I’m in the seat

that Stacey usually occupies,

giving

us all the finger.

If I told him what she did to me,

pretending to be nice then

leaving

me on my own,

Would he laugh and call

me pathetic for

being

such a loser?

I’m thinking I should just open

the door and leave,

letting

him off the hook,

When Mark does something

totally unexpected,

making

me wonder

If everything I think about people

is wrong and they’re just

faking

most of the time,

Because next thing I know he

is looking at me sweetly,

asking

me where I live.