i took the wrong car that day
rode far away
now there’s nothing here
but a line of ashes
and the hill where you sleep
beneath the cold soil
all this still haunts me
pulls me north
to where we grew up
and got let down
dropped into
a few moments
that took your life from mine
strange i should think
of seeing you
at a time like this
traveling thousands of miles
just to lie in the dirt
my cheek to granite
no pulse in stone
over a decade ago
you saw me become
silent and strange
still
you loved me
so, so many L words have I
spoken, said, written
without you here
the one i long to say
just your name
hot again in my mouth like
those warm summers
in the grass
with your lips pressed
so softly to my neck
your lips
some of the first
that i buried in my heart
because
i thought it was safe there
i always
thought you’d be safe
