Spring Lament

[TranquillityBase]

In this spring night loss
attracts loss say the chimes.

You were three days back 
on the wagon, face bruised from a fall 
you called me over to start your lawnmower.

Two moments, two embraces
when I first saw you and when I left you
we held each other like we were drowning
we said the word love.

But now you’ve let go and surfaced.
Your heart is locked back up
by your necessary self-mortification.

If you had looked back,
You’d have seen me still drowning.

I’ve surfaced now too
so we can resume our street roles 
neighbors with asphalted hearts
where our love is safely underground.

In this spring night

loss attracts loss say the chimes.



You were three days back on the wagon

face bruised from a drunken fall

you called me over to start your lawnmower.



Two moments, two embraces

when I saw you first and when I left you

we held on to each other like we were drowning

we said the word love.



But now you’ve let go and surfaced.

Your heart is locked back up

by an alcoholic’s necessary self-mortification.



If you had looked back,

You’d have seen I was still drowning.



I’ve surfaced now too

so we can resume our street roles 

neighbors with asphalt hearts

we walk across as though we were strangers.