her three pears

while staring at her

painting

of three pears 

in a white bowl

on a wooden table

i told her

that her paintings 

were getting better,

they had more soul,

to which she

took offense

and said, 

your writing 

is improving too.

it was those kind

of remarks

that made me aware

that things were over,

not right away,

but in a darkened

month or two.