the clip on tie

it was

a cheap suit,

a J.C. Penny's special.

a pale

grey greenish number

with 

small lines

of red thread

running through it.

a thin white shirt,

starched,

a clip-on tie, plaid.

it was the first wedding,

the entry

level

step into love and marriage.

the pictures

were horrifying.

a few months

later,

as i was driving home

from work

i saw her

walking up the street

with our new toaster

oven and her

one bag.

i waved, but she didn't

wave back.

when i got home,

i ate the last slice

of the frozen wedding cake

and stuffed the suit in the trash.