Unsure of him after the first date
when he argued the bill and called
tipping a yank guilt trip for lousy pay
she still moved in a month later.
He had a lovely grin, it was Spring,
besides, his Parnell flat was so central.
Soon discovered he made Scrooge
seem like Father Xmas on speed.
Berated her for leaving lights on
vacuming the carpet too hard
letting food spoil, wasting soap.
Finally Telecom played volcano
as their account erupted at breakfast
and Spot the dog scurried for cover.
Her comfort call to a distraught mate
in Melbourne had gobbled too many dollars.
Face red and mouth open, vomiting words
he looked like a deep sea fish her father
used to catch,who eyes would bulge
when hauled too fast to the surface.
But fish turned to shark as he attacked.
Ripped skin and bruises were left behind
as he took off on a ten-day business trip
leaving her to cry alone in the flat.
Bags took little time to pack, Melbourne
had always appealed. As she left
she dialled the speaking clock in New York
then carefully left the phone off the hook.