after I feel everything properly
I will take it upon myself
to engrave our history on the walls
of every place we’ve been

even if you won’t read the words

or claim what’s there is completely illegible

the city will swell beyond the both of us

carrying me away
the city can stand on it’s own two feet

but not me, not yet

later, when I feel nothing at all

I will travel by foot to lay a wreath
along every sidewalk where I thought of you
until every airborne eye can view

a trail that leads absolutely nowhere



and you will wake to drink your coffee

and interpret the world, you will
weave yourself further

into this city, move concrete
like sand to erase my validity,
you’ll embed yourself in the earth
all in the name of belonging, you will
fall on your knees and bruise all the skin there

but never tell a soul, you will laugh for days

at how you’re above it, your uncanny awareness
of these rules, this life


and in the evening you will take your words and try your best
to assemble them
and I will do the same with mine,

but I will try better