The words
The verses
The whispers of wisdom and grace
Floating out in the atmosphere
I am with them
High in this sky
The air is thin and cold
My human body is gasping for even one breath
One life sustaining inhale
Sweet
Yet I can taste the rising pollution on my panting tongue
I can feel them
The syllables forming beauty around my mind
So close
To translucent to grasp
Reaching out with my hands only to find dust
As my brain comes out of my latest illusion
The only thing I find here;
Is a hollow shell of an earth that I used to understand

We have known each other
since first grade

At one time we were
like sisters
I mean we enjoyed
each other's company
I thought we would be
best friends forever
that we would never grow apart

Now it is not so

I mean there is
a huge wedge of resentment
We talk on the phone
like we really have enthusiasm

But deep down inside of us
is smoldering disgust

Last time we got together
to play a game of dominoes
Which being around one another
Is a rare occasion
You really couldn't tell
Nor could I

That there was an elephant
in the room

Built up things that we wanted
to say to each other
But did not deem appropriate
Like we were too ladylike  

But the closet alcohol abuse
And all the lies
I could hold back no more
When you called me later on

To tell me off

You throw up money in my face
You make me feel bad about myself
You do this
You do that

And my reply was
You nearly killed us both
As I drove with you down to Kentucky
For the funeral of our fellow, childhood friend

And now I just don't think
I want to be your friend anymore
You are angry all the time
You need help

There, I said it

I've waited six years to reveal that
Glad to have it off my chest

I am so glad now that the elephant
in the room

Has been noticed

I occasionally
skip a beat
just
to watch you falter.

I don't remember, any more,
The exact shape of your hands
As I held them in mine,
Caressed them,
Memorized the length of your fingers,
The depth of your calluses.

I don't remember, any more,
Exactly your height, how much
Taller than me
You were, where
My head rested on your chest
When you held me tightly close.

I don't remember, any more,
Your scent, when we lay together
Creating our own
Magic rhythm,
Matching our heartbeats as we
Touched the sky, together.

I don't remember, any more,
The sound of your voice, calling
My name as though
It were a song
Within itself, a precious treasure
You valued with all your being.

And I don't remember, any more,
The color of your eyes, the shape
Of your lips,
Only...
How your eyes crinkled at the corners
And your laugh, as you told me,

"I love you."