She buys a torn and faded map
All the continents are misshapen
The rivers smudged.Her faith is
inexhaustible. So here I am,
the bridge she will never cross.
The cataratic mapmaker rubbing his
eyes knowing only one route.
I stand on the other side
watch her put on a mask
so we will know exactly
how she feels, watch
her turn away
with map in hand
watch her
as she gets
smaller
and smaller.
I am on the otherside,
sitting on a chair,
in an empty room
in an abandoned house,
the windows have been boarded shut.
With my finger I erase
the ring of water
left behind by her glass.
It is true that I loved
her. I am gaunt
and my ribs are showing.
copyright c.a. leibow 2007
Published in Rat Fink Review
Apr 23, 2024
Apr 23, 2024 at 3:12 PM UTC
She buys a torn and faded map
All the continents are misshapen
The rivers smudged.Her faith is
inexhaustible. So here I am,
the bridge she will never cross.
The cataratic mapmaker rubbing his
eyes knowing only one route.
I stand on the other side
watch her put on a mask
so we will know exactly
how she feels, watch
her turn away
with map in hand
watch her
as she gets
smaller
and smaller.
I am on the otherside,
sitting on a chair,
in an empty room
in an abandoned house,
the windows have been boarded shut.
With my finger I erase
the ring of water
left behind by her glass.
It is true that I loved
her. I am gaunt
and my ribs are showing.
copyright c.a. leibow 2007
Published in Rat Fink Review
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