He said "I do," but I was not standing beside him;

it was a bottle of liquor he was talking to.

He said I do, to every floosy in the cowboy bar

while I was at home saying "don't."

He needed to learn how to say "I don't."

What do you say to a man who

is polymorphous perverse;

who has a need to share beyond what he needs to

with the lonely and the needy?

And I am the burning moth

which flaps its wings and hovers close

because that is what moths do.

I do;

never minding the heat

or flaming wings;

I guess I don't

and I should.