in pursuit of joy

for Jenni and Nicole

in the pursuit of joy and merriment --
mid-way through a toast to long-gone
internet boyfriends -- we all begin to cry.

allowing fat salty tears ruin the taste
of our cheep strawberry wine, and spoil
our brand name attempts to cover surface wounds.

self serving self pity and mutual admiration
for the bravery of each other, around a table
of cakes and hardback books of famous paintings.

we find solace in another tree, another outlet,
to reunite us for another night in nice dresses,
and staring out over the sea

to attractive professors who have no idea
the kind of dreams they stir
as they walk past our nest.