cashmere

we were married
forty-five years,
he was just
driving, she told
me. he was at the
wheel and the light
was red, the radio
was on, he had a
cigarette in his
mouth and was
telling me about
a new deal he had
just made at work,
you know how
excited he was
about his work,
using his hands
as he does, and
then the light
changed to green,
but he didn't go.
i looked over at him,
hey, go, i said,
and his hands were
on the wheel, but
limp, his eyes were
open and his head
had fallen to one
side. the cigarette
was somehow still
in his mouth, but
he was gone.
the cars behind us
began to beep, they
began to yell, and
curse us for not
moving, but there
was nothing i could
do. nothing. he
was gone. what size
coat do you wear,
he had so many coats.
very nice business
suits too, you should
come over. try them on.
you like cashmere,
don't you?