by David Lehman

The happiest moment in a woman's life

Is when she hears the turn of her lover's key

In the lock, and pretends to be asleep

When he enters the room, trying to be

Quiet but clumsy, bumping1 into things,

And she can smell the liquor on his breath

But forgives him because she has him back

And doesn't have to sleep alone.

The happiest moment in a man's life

Is when he climbs out of bed

With a woman, after an hour's sleep,

After making love, and pulls on

His trousers, and walks outside,

And pees in the bushes, and sees

The high August sky full of stars

And gets in his car and drives home.