The Benchmark Er

He took a fork and knife and walked one by one down the aisle

He put on a song contrary to the depth of his intentions

He bought a box of matches so that he could burn the crimson right off of those sheets

---it was better that way

---it all was

He wanted to shake her back and forth and go back to when they held each other with purpose

He did a lot of these things

---it was easy to get it all over with

---easy is as easy is

He started to get obsessed with the lifespan of a severed leaf

He knew full and well, full well,

---the ridiculousness of such a compulsion

But he kept the fork and knife just here

and here

and close to the vest

---just in case