Pocketbook Progeny

by

Mary A. Green

---

Jerry carries pictures in his wallet
Pictures of Melanie and Michael
Melanie and Michael live in Morden
          with their mother

Jerry lives in Winnipeg
          with his new partner
And shows pictures of Melanie and Michael
To the people at the party

"I hear Michael's a way taller
Than me now," he says
"And Melanie is dating."
Jerry hasn't seen his children
Since he stopped sending money
          to their mother
When she moved to Morden

Jerry's partner is pregnant
No one at the party knows it
          not even Jerry yet
But he ponders about why she's pensive
And why she walks away when
Jerry shows his pictures of Melanie
          and Michael
That he carries in his wallet.

---