2000/germs

The germs of everyone
I have ever kissed
still live in my mouth.
It makes a good case
to love cautiously.
My mother always said
to buy the best,
things that last.
But when my marriage ended
I wondered why it mattered
if the sofa held up.
I think of this,
hearing the radio blurb
about the germs,
of all the love I longed for
that never came to be,
but still managed
to contaminate me.

1/27/00