Grumpus Is Come

I'm leaning back in the speedboat

the wind whipping my hair about

making my face tingle

sea and sun are lulling me to sleep

the only thing out of place is the frown that

wrinkles my forehead.

Grumpus is come.

A few years ago

I read a short story

that a husband

wrote about the times his wife got grouchy, bitchy, grumpy

she became a completely different person

and he called that person Grumpus.

it ended up being pretty touching

and I relayed the story to my ex (then boyfriend)

who started using it on me.

"Grumpus you go away, no one wants you here" he would say

solemnly shaking his head

whenever Grumpus came out

making me laugh

I thought about how beautiful the day was

the sun, the sea, the company

Grumpus had no right to spoil it for me.

In my head I conjured a picture of my ex

"No Grumpus, you're bad. Give me back Lulu"

he says wagging his finger in my face.

And just like that, Grumpus went away.