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The Mistake

And now for an intermediate
swim in the intermediate
pool. All things you have wanted
ignored. Evil, real evil
(the kind that visited you once)
still around, just not touching you
now. Still, the intent. Broken nail, a
broken nail indicating something:
you are letting yourself go, perhaps;
perhaps it is indicating that. Late
into night, when your husband is asleep
in his pain, when you are still up,
your exhaustion over, your interest rekindled,
your recollection of calling Iskandar
Ibrahim, greeting him, Hi, oh hi,
Ibrahim-calling him by that most offensive
of all names. A mistake, you made
(not having seen him for so long)
an honest mistake. Next thing you know
you'll be calling all men
by the wrong name.

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