farewell #21
You will always live inside me (and I in you)
This is the new forever we can promise each other
• • •
This living memory of us
a garden stretched from rib to rib
alive, moist, untamable (like our love)
tanglewood and bleeding hearts and crowds of
flowering orchids (irrigated by tears)
The redundancy of forget-me-nots in a place like this
The winding paths all overgrown
but I could trace their lines
with my eyes closed.
I know this place by heart.
• • •
I used to ask silly questions like
“what do we do with this miracle of love?”
and “what if this won’t be enough?”
and ”what if I’m too broken to love?”
And now I ask other silly questions like
“will I ever find epic love again?” and
“what if he was the last great man to ever cherish me?”
and “how will I ever forgive myself for burning it down?”
(and how will you?)
• • •
The dizzying amount of times we’ve said goodbye
(as if it’s the reason we do this dance)
But those delicious reunions, umami supernovas
(as if it’s the reason we do this dance)
Have we really had enough to drink?
(we can’t ask that anymore)
No matter. The bartender has cut us off
• • •
One hundred and thirty-seven miles apart
(it’s easy to think the magic loves us the most)
I dance for you (such longing)
You look for me (such homesickness)
I send you strength (you refuse it)
You give me comfort (I abuse it)
Just pray for me like I pray for you (I know you do)
We’re so tired (where is sleep?)
Another silent night in the garden.
(Goodnight, my love)
• • •
I will always live inside of you (and you in me)
Let me be a fountain in there
instead of a thorned rose
And you will be a mountain
(you always were)