1723: The Answers | Stephen Dunn
"The Answers"
Stephen Dunn
Why did you leave me?
We had grown tired together. Don't you remember?
We'd grown tired together, were going through the motions.
Why did you leave me?
I don't know, really. There was comfort in that tiredness.
There was love.
Why did you leave me?
You began to correct my embellishments in public.
You wouldn't let me tell my stories.
Why did you leave me?
She is... I don't wish to be
any more cruel than I've been
You son-of-a-bitch.
Why did you leave me?
I was already gone.
I just brought my body with me.
Why did you leave me?
You found out and I found I couldn't give her up.
I was as shocked as you were.
Why didn't you lie to me?
I was already lying to you. It was hard work.
All of it suddenly felt like hard work.
Why did you leave me?
I wanted to try monogamy again.
I wanted the freedom to be monogamous.
You fucker. You fucking son-of-a-bitch.
Why did you leave me?
I wanted you both. I thought I could be faithful
to each of you. You shouldn't have made me choose.
Don't you know what betrayal is?
I never thought of it as betrayal. More like one pleasure
of mine you should never have known.
You really are quite an awful man.
Why did you leave me?
It was time to leave.
The hour of leaving had come.
Why did you leave me?
It would take too long to explain. Please
don't ask me to explain.
Will you not explain it to me?
No, I will not explain it to you. I'll say anything
rather than explain it to you. Even things that sound true.
sixteen, diving/from the pier. It was summer. His arms/outstretched.