I took home from the library a used Sunday magazine
The previous reader had marked some quality words
Carefully, with a yellow felt pen
dire straits collude riveting besotted
touchstone ubiquitous isomorphism reproach
copacetic vistas relished voracious
obdurately fervent illuminating catapult
titrating arduous rebuffed edict
froth volatile smoldering palpable
fugue debacle respite belligerence
emanate protracted hectored concurred
culminate assimilate ameliorate chided
Maybe the marks were made by a child doing homework
Or an elderly man adding to his vocabulary
Before completing the crossword
But
The article is long and emotional
And concerns couples in counseling
I imagine a woman with a yellow pen
Not yet fluent in her new country
Not yet separated from her husband and his old ways
Who wants to understand the words
And what comes next
