ONLY NOW DO YOU CALL HIM HUSBAND 

fold yourself

over, let your head hang

heavy, like fruit ripe

with bloodnectar, curved

limb of spine weighted

straight.  only now

do you say you need him

do you call him husband

grief pulling your heart

closer to the earth. 

(published in Contemporary Verse 2, Fall 2016 Vol. 39 No. 2)