Metal Strings and Rings (4/9/96)

she drove up
in his black car,
asked me if i wanted a ride,
i said no.

told me she was working at
a dept. store selling men's clothes.
if i needed help buying
an interview suit,
come see her.

i said sure and walked away.
all i really noticed that
she was wearing
a golden dolphin ring
i bought her before,
when we were together.

once she told me
guys should buy rings
for their girlfriends
so they'd remember
their boyfriends --
kind of
a metal string
tied around her finger.

seeing the ring today
those words didn't make any sense.
then, i guessed it was a line
to get me
to buy her a ring.
now, i barely speak with her.

the dolphin ring
is
a golden string
tied around her finger
for me
to forget.


tom loos