These Hands That Kiss Me

"will be working late.
will bring Milk when
I come to pick up Key---I forgot---
I'm sorry about last night."

He left early after having slept downstairs. His
note on the fridge was in harsh script---strong
hands---angry---it's incredible to me that
men's hands can make letters at all.

"Hard" was crossed out and "late" written
to replace it, and "Milk" and "Key" were
capitalized just that way. A swipe of
blood on the note's edge---from shaving?---
god, only rage can make hands tremble
like that with a blade at your throat.

I read his note again, this time
mouthing the words.