At Times You Play the Lover

(By Gub, the 11th of April, 2012, HBC)

At times you play the lover
Occasional wife
Most times it's the mother;

A cloak of first resort
To hide from unwelcome visits,
Retire to early bed,
With a warmer thought,
Than marital consumption
- or tedious rendition
Of 'thank you' for the most
Basic partner function
Like :- is the dog fed?
Are the lights off?

Are we dead?

Am I your soul mate,
Your husband,
Your chauffeur
Or fortunes' croupier
Raking chips
Across the green baize ?

Are we passing roles
Or passing out ?

The red light flashes at the
End of the Causeway
The oceans cavernous reach
A Perplex of white and dark creases

Never ending questions
Never ending
Waves

Such tension -

Ascend, descend,
Unceasing,

Life may be tedious - yes
But death is permanent
And dull.