the melody

I traced your lips

  singing the same

               melody

 and I

 found

 the tears

             of

 feeling more

       than this life can
                        hope to satisfy

 that truth

      —a hollowness

       in this body,

       a shaking like none other,

       a weariness resonating

           the steady invitation 

                     for more

the same

You

on my couch

spewing words

a song of sorts

that wouldn’t end.

I sunk to forget my choices

wishing I was

elsewhere

deeper into the floor

trying to erase

the past shame.

Chet

“something profound and

beautiful is happening in you and you don’t know

how to take it”

I am twirling my straw

attempting not to

cry

for once you

are right.

bursting

sitting in your car

trying to understand

trying to communicate well

being vulnerable and open

trying to not let any bitterness or misunderstanding get between us

—that is beauty.

I still go back to that

(over and over, actually)

I still go back to

the felt joy of meeting you at all

letting gratefulness suture

those gaping holes of fear

of doubt

I will keep trusting
that I will see you again

probably under that pine tree

with a celebratory cupcake

meteor shower

when you’re 7 the middle of the night is

so startling

but she has that smile and

I’m so curious why

we sneak outside

resting our blanket on the warm concrete

right in the middle of the street

she points up

207 was the official count

I will never forget