box of jars

daniel kraines
The Eastern Bloc
	I waited for you in bed and stared
at the flat's plaster walls. 
	Steam drifted into the bedroom—
from the shower, Lena stepped out 
	(a great actress!) wrapped in her towel 
fresh and concealed. 
	I pretended to read Neues Deutschland 
until I heard her through the plaster.
	I jerked off.  
I didn't care if Lena heard me. 
	It was about to rain all day, until dark
when you returned 
	and found me lying on your bed
(how you mistook a hard-on for love).
	I finished. 
I looked to where Lena had disappeared.
	Draped over the open door, her towel
dried and shut me out.