Katrina Kaye

my pale legs
do not mix
with his strong tea

the sun burns the
length of the table
casting a thin line
between us

as an afterthought
he proposed marriage

I refused

it has been too late
for a while now

as a forethought
I packed a bag

toothbrush
matches
pocketknife
bent on surviving
the elements

I left my sweater
folded on the night stand

it will be a while
before I feel this cold again

“Too Late” is previously published in A Scattering of Imperfections (2009).