Cave Hill Cemetery

You’re not blaming me for the failure of our relationship are you? Because I’ve been thinking back on that day last summer at the cemetery when you gave me that little speech about having important things to do with important people and how your time was so valuable and all. Remember how you suggested (as we were weaving in and out around the monuments that looked like very large penises?) that I might serve as sort of a filler (when you didn’t have anything else to do)? Quarterly, I believe, is the word you used. So (in contrast to what you’ve argued here) I don’t think that you really gave much of an effort in “trying to like” me. I recall also that you said you weren’t going to change, that I would never change you, that I had to accept you for who you are. I suppose that should have been a red flag. Anyway. What I’m thinking is that, rather than trying to improve myself according to your specifications, had I simply required you to accept me as I am as well, I might not be wondering now what’s wrong with me, why you gave up on trying to fix me and sent me that tediously long and convoluted message about how all your real friends called last weekend to talk about you.

Nettie Farris lives in Floyds Knobs, Indiana and is the author of Communion (Accents Publishing, 2013). In 2011 she received the Kudzu Poetry Prize. Her work has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize.