love and dead animals

something's dead
in the attic
she says, holding her nose,
pointing towards
the ceiling.
maybe you should
go up there
and see what it is.
you go, I tell her.
you smelled it first.
no, it's your house, she says,
handing you
a flashlight
and a broom.
go with me, I ask her.
if you loved me, I mean
truly loved me,
you'll help me remove
a dead animal
from
the attic.
no, she says. you can't define
my love for you
with the cleaning up of
dead animals.
be a man and go up there.
i'll hold the ladder.