A Lowkey Search for Something Long-Term

She laughs at me as I stand in the mirror and says

I should be so glad to be losing so much!

My mind? I ask.

No, so much weight, she replies.

All trace of stomach, gone.

How educational these days must be for me.

How high, how high my character must be,

she laughs, and looks up,

there it is! On the ceiling, judging us all!

I say she’s fine as she is.

She shakes her head, no,

and anyway, she continues, it’s judging you too.

She wishes she could go on my diet,

visions and the gifts of parties,

alas, bureaucrats and husbands won’t allow it,

Afterwards,

she turns on her side and goes to sleep.

I look at the ceiling, and end my day in wonder.

Ben Nardolilli currently lives in New York City. His work has appeared in Perigee Magazine, Red Fez, Danse Macabre, The 22 Magazine, Quail Bell Magazine, Elimae, The Northampton Review, Local Train Magazine, The Minetta Review, and Yes Poetry. He blogs at mirrorsponge.blogspot.com and is trying to publish a novel.