fourth floor room 
each girl I've brought back home to bloom 
all fold on close inspection 
each one leaves a banner hanging from the eaves 
marking the eve of election 
ex-girl collection 
why/ into why not 
into what else you got? 
it's just how men mark time ann slams in 
another lightening round begins 
this could get interesting 
where's ann been? 
she pours herself a don't-ask gin 
no ice and light on the bitters 
I'm done with quitters 
'why / charles, I found out 
wipe that smile off your mouth 
I think it's tell-me time...' 
britt hit hard 
she found my box of beth's best cards 
hand cut and signed with 'x's 
called at work 
'happy anniversary, jerk' 
and I just laughed at the timing with you on hold line 2 still crying 'why 
play sex on the cuff? 
does beth like it rough? 
and learn your dirty lines? 
and keep her hair cropped 
(the other shoe dropped) 
'is this how men mark time in couples?', she cursed 
(this sounds too rehearsed) 
as ann, hand on hip, accusing me to the rafters 
the words turn and spit and scorch right through to the plaster 
I'm called 10 kinds of a bastard 
curses came faster 
why / into why not? 
into charles gone to pot 
in hotter water 
line up to lift up a toast 
to the ones I hurt most 
and how the well's gone lime 
with charles on the plow 
I'm roger over and how 
slower now men mark time 
fine 
why, what else you got?