The more the man calls her a liar

 

The more the man calls her a liar

the more I believe he is the one
because that’s how liars work.
“You lie! You’re a liar!”
“No.” She, small woman, responds softly
but firmly at the side of the road.
I pass walking my puppy.

I never stick my hand into a dog fight
and it would be none of my business
but they have a daughter
her face inscrutably blank
who clutches a stuffie lion
large as herself.

My puppy named Doc wants
to greet lion and daughter both.
I stop and watch from across the street
until the liar-man sees me and says
“This is private.”
I say “Then make it private.”

They go.
The little girl follows dragging her lion
which seems ever larger.
Doc whines.
We grownups are so stupid.

……

First published in Anti-Heroin Chic
photo by Lisa Runnels