A Little to the Left

he stopped the car
a safe distance from the highway’s free-left exit
at a few meter’s distance
a dog’s carcass was being scrapped
out of the newly tarred road
he did not notice it
but she did
and made a face,
as the stench of death drifted lazily
he began talking
“This may come as a shock …”
but she did not listen to him
she was watching the municipal workers
“I am leaving …”
as they flung the inedible pâté
into a parked garbage truck
“You have the freedom …”
and walked back purposefully
to the electric lamppost
“It would make me happy …”
they would clean the place up
and return she concluded
turning to him.
His last words were lost to the blast
of the passing vehicle’s horn
he was bent over the steering wheel
muffling his voice further
what, she asked
he turned to look at her
her otherwise pretty face looked sad
and a lone tear
found its way to her quivering lips
he struggled with the right words
and not finding any,
remained silent
She sank into his shoulder
and let the tears flow
In the cornucopia of time that elapsed
She wept for the dog
and he squirmed with discomfort,
suspicious that she was begging him
to take her back again