She Remembers

A Cento Poem from Jack Ridl’s Losing Season

by Paige Parris

He poured himself some coffee, sat at the window

She remembers being happy
She remembered the way his hands had held her years ago

Coach’s wife looks at her hands

She remembers her phone ringing, walking late at night, even dancing
They’d dance, make love, and find their bodies new again
“But it’s fire” she said. “Fire goes out.”

Coach goes into the kitchen, pours another cup of coffee, stirs in some sugar

She hands him a wet plate. He rubs the towel across it
Feel the delicate fingers of the girl who didn’t know he loved her
Who decided once again to stay

Coach’s wife thinks about spending her whole life here

It’s January 
Coach, you haven’t got much time
Listen to the empty air
She knows how to make it through the winter