the grape vine

i trim the grapevine
down

to almost one person.
a dangling strand

on the fence of my life.
the shears
have dulled from all the cutting

of the vines.
friends and relatives.

acquaintances with nothing
but trouble
and gossip on their minds.

i'm done with grapevine.
the drama

of others, the secrets, the whispers,
the promises

to promise that what i'm
about to tell you is never told

to another soul.
i take it down to the roots.
and kill it.