the rose bushes

with spite
she burns
the toast,
puts the coffee out
cold.
denies him
affection.
he lets the lawn
go.
the weeds
rising higher
than the thorny
rose
bushes
they bought
together some
sunny spring
when
things were
looking up,
not down.
he keeps his
words
to himself.
she keeps herself
to herself.
everyone knows
but doesn't know
that it's over.
her mother says
leave, her sister
agrees. her father
can't stand him
to begin with.
but there's the dog,
the money.
the kids.
the vacation house
in the florida
keys.
let's get another
rose bush, he says,
breaking
the ice.
okay, she says.
let's. and so it
goes.