April is wide open

i smooth out some wrinkles

in a

relationship

heading south,

using small talk

and asking questions

of a personal nature,

showing that deep down

inside this crusty exterior

there's an empathetic

soul inside.

she buys it.

she asks me what are you

doing now.

lunch, maybe?

take a walk.

i get out my list of excuses.

snow,

a cold.

wind.

errands to do.

bills, ironing socks,

etc.

and push down on the snow

button.

yeah, she says. the roads

are treacherous.

i repeat the word treacherous,

and tell her

that April is wide open.