michael keshigian
BREAKUP
He never expected this,
never imagined such a precise failure.
He wanted to describe it as unanticipated,
like the rain suddenly falling
through a fine ocean mist
that shattered the placid countenance
into minute eruptions of foam
transforming the sea
into voluminous purple waves
that startled seagulls
standing by the shoreline.
He chose to concoct inane explanations
about what went wrong,
to extract sympathy from those
who listened and watched,
like the angry young groom
left stranded at the alter,
embarrassed and screeching away
in his car, devoid of safety and logic.
It never occurred to him
that it could be so mundane,
typically hopeless yet predictable,
as tedious as a hangnail,
duller than motivational television
on a hot summer afternoon.
In no way could he have envisioned this
inside his home where he sits alone
at the kitchen table
gripping cold morning coffee
in his pajamas at 4 p.m.
MICHAEL KESHIGIAN is the author of six poetry chapbooks. His poetry has been widely published in numerous national and international journals, appearing as the feature writer for The Aurorean, Poetree Magazine, Chantarelle’s Notebook, Bellowing Ark, Pegasus Review, The Illogical Muse, interviewed by Boston Literary Magazine (bostonliterarymagazine.com/Fall2007 Spotlight) and Reader’s Choice in the Fairfield Review. Recently, his collection of poems entitled Lunar Images, was set to music for Clarinet, Piano, and Narrator by Boston composer Dennis Leclaire and premiered at Del Mar College in Texas on November 5, 2010. A Boston premier took place on March 7, 2011 at the Berklee College of Music. (michaelkeshigian.com)