Nancy L. Meek

STRANGER IN THE BED

Awarded: August 12, 2008He says I’ll never understand
the things he’s seen and done
in that God-forsaken land
when he slept beside his gun.

I hope to God he’s right,
that I’ll never know her name
or recognize her face at night
for the whore she soon became.

I hope I’ll never glean her
in our bedroom growing cold,
whispering, “Come hither.
I need someone to hold.”

I hope I’ll never meet her,
for I know I’d shoot her dead,
with my 9mm Repeater,
for sleeping in our bed.