the first and last date

i don't want

to meet

her children, but she insists.

all four

of them

show up on our date,

her ex-husband too

and a shaggy dog.

there they

are outside the bar

window

waving in.

who's that, i ask.

my family she says,

they want to meet you.

i tap

my glass on the bar

and tell

the bartender

that i'm going to need

a lot more gin.