the girlfriends

i always had

girlfriends who dressed

nice,

and looked nice,

but they had no money.

they drove beat up cars,

or took the subway,

or bus

and lived in a three

floor walk

up in the city.

all their furniture

wobbled

beneath fancy

colorful sheets

cut to size

from their mother's

closet.

there was always

a window stuck,

a lightbulb to be

changed,

a smoke alarm

going off, or mouse

that had to be caught.

and most knew only

how to cook salmon

and make

a salad.

but they were fun.

full of life.

they were great

dancers. lovers. but

they knew as i knew,

that it was all temporary,

we'd both move on

at some point

when another bus 

would arrive.