it smells like fish or meat

things,

both living and mechanical

eventually

die.

they give up,

break down.

i know that, i expect it, but

it still

surprises me

when i open

the refrigerator door

and the ice

has melted

in the ice trays,

the bags of food in the freezer

are soft

and almost warm.

mushy.

there's a bag of sweet peas,

and something pink

that resembles and smells like

fish or meat.

i try to remember when i bought

this refrigerator.

how many years

has it been?

was it between wife one and wife

two

that i had it delivered

from Best Buy?

i can't remember, but

here we go again.