Whoever they are, these friends of ours
seem not the least self-conscious
sharing the indiscreet details
of how they met and how they courted

half as long ago as we. They purr
like cats lapping cream from the same
little bowl, their whiskers nixing.
(Is it really so simple for some—

their stories no more complex
than TV listings?)
                            It comes our turn.

I try: “For us, love was always complex,”
and everything changes, like a badly

timed commercial. My wife agrees,
thank heaven, though she won’t get a hearing.

“Love is complex,” someone repeats,
clearing plates and offering: “More to drink?”

but it’s late, and more so than they think.

Todd Boss was born and raised in Fall Creek and now lives in St Paul. He is the author of two books of poetry, yellowrocket (2002) and Pitch (2012) both from W. W. Norton. “More So” is reprinted with the author’s permission. For more about Todd visit poetryfoundation.org/bio/todd-boss