Monday, April 13, 2009

poetic correspondence

Alex Adams

(With Hayden Vann)


Passion isn't always glamorous

We argue over a slim table

Bolted to swivel chairs

In checkered t-shirts

When eyes grasp each other

And a warm hand reaches across

Soothing my cheek and neck

I thought you meant goodbye but

What came out was I love you.

I thought it was confusion

A lie, a joke- kidding myself

Laughing, saying “Take it back”

Only realizing the reality of our word

When you said “I can't”

And locked me up in your heart

In your lips

And clutched between your knuckles

A captive


Is goodbye ever really goodbye?

How many times have you tried to grasp

the true meaning of goodbye, of someone being truly gone from your life,

and failed?

Even when your thoughts

are still captivated by that person,

they are still lingering with you,

not saying a truthful goodbye.


I can feel you waiver

when your hands quiver

with the graze of mine

Letting go of the resistance

Lay me down

Don't be afraid to stay after you say goodnight

And leave me a trail

I won't come running after


Lay down, and study his hands,

Study your hands.

Clasp them gracefully

and know how they fit together.

Hands travel with you everywhere,

Stories waiting to be told,

The lines are paths waiting to be crossed.

No comments: