whenever we met
she told me how I disliked her
and in what measure
and the reasons
and I laughed
her room was draped with peacock scarves
of purple print and pink bohemian hue
burnt candle and saffron and wine
even in the stink of summer
when children in buggies were gassed by buses
the air striking in the surrey hills
her room had coolness
our disagreement lay
- or so I am told -
in an off-hand remark while drunk
for which no apology was asked
and full insult taken
she never drank tea - only earl grey or lapsang -
but I drank it with milk and no lemon
during one lecture about the perils of meat
I pointed out I was a vegetarian
she knew me better than myself
told me my opinions
defined my tastes and whims
laughed at my clothes
and my carefree contempt
and then one day we air-kissed
without goodbye
The Blue Book
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