like you wish

there's not a cure for everything,

although you can
placebo up just about any
disease
or ailment,

or maladjusted mood.

put on a red dress and let's go
out,
I used to tell her,
when she rested her cheeks
on her hands,
depressed,

elbows dug into the couch,
staring
glumly out the back window
while squirrels
swung sideways on the bird feeder.

is that your answer, she'd
say, without even turning
her head
to look at me.

I'd sigh and reply, okay
well how about you

put on a red and dress
and let
me slowly peel it off
you,
then bite your neck,

how's that, better?

to which she'd say something,
to effect of
like you wish.