Each note in my ears
conducts an orchestra of memory
a rush of blood
from my heart to
my head
                I remember
                my summer of love
                                                  making
The­ King of Carrot Flowers in California
                                                  his stubble- cactus needles
                                                  rubbing­ my lips numb like *******
She Came in Through the Bathroom Window, in Michigan
                                                   her hair a brambled bush
                                                   tangled in my fingers
******* for the Holidays, in her bed
                                                   her body like going home
                                                   each time "the last, I swear"
Every Little Thing She Does, in her car
                                                    trips to the playground
                                                    wh­ere we explored like children
and
The Communist Daughter, who set me free
                                                     the feeling of forever
                                                     my hand in the small of her back
                                                     as we danced in our underwear
                                                     to Waltz #2
I remember lying
on blades of grass
as hot air balloons
fell into the sky
stirring her algae eyes
my mouth dry and expectant
I knew exactly why I had to leave.
The Southern State
called me nightly
when I heard the train
shouting my future.

So
I rode her to Chicago
with Tom Waits
on my smoke breaks.
From Chicago to Dallas
I wrote poems of
                              "true love"
                              "****** obsessions"
                              "surprise thoughts"
***** singing
'1. 2. 3. 4.' in Chris's guest bedroom
                                                         ­       her boyfriend calling
                                                         ­       we whispered promises
                                                        ­         of a future before
                                                          ­       we kissed goodbye.