LAWYER'S POINT
David Howard

Incense conquering air, a widower's gesture
before the Virgin's image -- unbelievable
how ritual animates this house.
I peel garlic cloves so, stir the vinaigrette anti-
clockwise thirteen times. Perfect.
I've been here before. My window
opens onto the bronzed seaboard
cliché. As eggs cackle in the pan I hum
Automatic love is all I want....
Casually it happens, casually
because there is no other way;
for as long as 'as long as' lasts
forget-me-nots fill the vase on the sill.