Poem: An Old Gossip

In the last writing workshop, one prompt was to write about "an old gossip." This is the poem I jotted down.

 -
An Old Gossip

It was an old gossip he found
a shamed part of him
unreal until he saw it in writing
ancient enough no one would care
not even his wife, of whom it concerned.
He found the smudge drawing
while opening boxes in the attic, the kind
sealed with layers of tape, labeled “other.”

He took that old gossip
ancient enough no one would care
and tucked it into the breast pocket
of his shirt. He kissed his wife before going out
and in the moment of embrace
felt that folded corner
and its dozen fingerprints grow hot,
hot as his face.

After he entombed it, he went drinking with friends.
A lot of shots went round. In the morning
after he sobered up, he bought two bouquets
daffodils aflutter. One, he lay on the now-quiet
mound of earth. The other, he gave to his wife.