My Apartment. Poem by Terry Collett

My apartment she said is not
That big and not in a state I’d
Like you to see but give me
Time and I’ll tidy it up and put
Away the books and papers
Scattered over the floor and table
And put all my clothes and smalls
Away and hey open up the windows
To let in fresh air to let out the smell
Of cigarettes and the cat I keep after
Finding it by the trash and it looked
So sad and unkempt and you said sure
Whenever you like wondering what
She did all day while not out at work
And if she kept the cat in bed with her
And had cat’s hairs everywhere and
How could she live in that untidiness
And come to think of it she did have
That catty smell when you stood next
To her in the lobby and yet you couldn’t
Help being attracted to her couldn’t help
Wanting to just plant a kiss on that cheek
Of hers and maybe get her into bed for
Sex then she said you must come over
And listen to my jazz records and maybe
Meet my mother and if you don’t mind
Her passing wind occasionally we could
All have a good time and all of a sudden
You remembered you had to be out of
Town for a while and maybe after the Fall
You uttered with an awkward smile and
She smiled back and pushed her fingers
Through her hair (unbrushed and tied back
With a blue ribbon) all long and black.