the idea of love

in a bar, late
at night, drinking
scotch i hear
my friend jimmy
say, i want to get
married again. i
really do. he's
not exactly divorced
yet because the lawyers
haven't quite hit
rock bottom with
his bank account,
but he's eager
for the next one,
the next soul
mate, love of his
life. and i say,
but why? your marriage
was a sham. it was
twenty five years
of misery. she hated
you, you hated
her. you took
separate vacations
slept in separate
rooms and she
cheated and lied
to you for years.
and now she is going
to take half of
every penny you
ever earned, not
to mention get alimony
for life.
what's the rush on
the next marriage?
and he says, i don't
know. i like
the romance of it all.
i think that the next
one will be different.
i'll get it right
this time. i like
the idea of being
in love, and bonded
with someone.
bartender, you yell
out, two more scotches
please, and some
pretzels.