The Three Of Us. Poem by Lonnie Hicks

The two sat down with their Relationship
and a soup-bowl of their mutual memories
the two lovers complaining that the other
had not given what they needed.
Each spoke after a sip of tainted memory.

She said 'You never thought of what I needed
that which pleased you is what mattered.
I was left with kids and bills as you escaped
to job and night out with the boys.
He said:
I thought I had married a princess and as it turns out
I had hired my own critic who's never satisfied.
And whittled down I have only 15 years and thirty extra pounds to show for it.
With that he took his tablespoon and sipped a double dip.

Finally relationship spoke:

All these years I have seen you two value the combat
more than I.
These years I have starved while neither of you could give me
the small attention which might have saved the marriage.

Neither of you looked to nurture me so concerned each of you with I.
And now you wonder if I skin and bone can be revived
my answer sure is to starve a thing for years on end
is not to wonder then it does not survive.

The two looked at one another.
Relationship looking really ill, said hoarsely.
'Now each of you start sentences that begin with we.'

to be continued