she's no longer impressed

his carvings

are beautiful, ducks

and geese,

birds of all kinds,

even fish.

meticulous 

work, detailed

and smooth.

some are painted

some are left

to the wood they

were born in.

come in, he says.

come in.

let me show you

the new ones

that i've done.

okay, i tell him, while

his wife

sits in the chair

by a window,

knitting and

rolling her eyes.