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Fate


by Bill Yarrow


comes as a hand­shake, a pat
on the back, fin­gers through
your hair, a nib­ble at your neck,
a kiss on the lips, a tongue
down your throat, a hand
in your pants. In other words,
an offer you choose not to refuse.
Well… decline the prof­fered hand,
turn from the puck­ered kiss,
refuse the fon­dle. It's a noir life?
That's what you've been taught?
Doesn't have to be. Lis­ten: you
don't need to return every sin­gle
serve that comes across your net.

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