Lover's Confessions Poem by Roger Gerald Hicks

Dawning love; no secrets,
and I ask: "What's the worst thing
you ever did? "

"Slept with my roommate's
boyfriend, after
she passed out, " you reply.

My turn, and I think: Here's this pure creation
who thinks bringing unanticipated
pleasure to a man is bad;

and here am I with enough baggage
to bloat a Mayflower:
so many opportunities to be responsible
shirked;
so many thoughtless decisions
made;
so many failures
to act;
so many many promises
broken;
so much sloth,
cravenness.

"Pawned my mother's heirloom watch
and got stinko with a buddy, "
I tell you.