You told it was important
Told me it was the last thing you had
A brutal honesty about you
Crying from denial
A broken keyboard
A fast laugh or two
Mostly from your brother
Or the girl behind the counter
Just at once
Your parents
Fast asleep
Watching the ball drop
My friend in the crowd
Stolen wine
Given time
How precious this was
So it was taken
Away

Oh we lay for a while
Bleaching in the city sun
Carefully awaiting
Reproach
The bustling traffic below
Chain-smoking a dozen Camels
Hearing for the first time
Our, call
Mall entrances
Cafe doorsteps
Bus stations
Even you
Even you didn't know you would go away
So for the first time
Let it be the last time
Gone

His younger brother died
Some time ago
So he sat and cried
Eating his happy meal
Ironically
Sitting on the fourth church pew
We sang hymns
He prayed curses
To a God that didn't seem to hear
Or a mother that wore too much make-up
A father that beat him every day
Wise eyes
Written on his face
At such a young age
Now
As I stroll the grounds
Feeling you six and a half feet beneath
I learned what you knew
All along
How can you not pity his place?
Should have known
For fear of the footsteps
At bedtime

Slip through the window
Undo the screen
Car parked outside
My friends are waiting
******* on cars
Midnight rise
Deep breaths
To heal
And feel
Again
Your voice slowed
And slurred with sleep
You never come
So I listen alone
Precise in impunity
But weak in stature
And I hope
That only once
Your need
Would have a cause
So great as this

This complex code
The love shared
Whispered through the pines
Back again
Is not as you think it is
Suddenly
But with gentle reprieve
Perverse lips
Stolen notebooks
The shelter
Felt by you
Alone
Love without gravity
In time
As I know you
Darling
Wait
Sleep still tonight
It will come
As you sit thinking
Praying and dreaming
Above
And with a sudden gasp
Your heart rampages
With no known destination

My memory
Used to be after eleven o'clock
No longer a loner
But with late night pool dives
And smoke and drinks
Shower conversations
Lingering emotions
Lost love
Fading voices
Be still
Complete

You swooped down
Hula hooped
And dropped for the kiss
Lit cigarette in hand
Laying down in the backseat
Feeling the cold air once more
Planes in the distance
We leave Tuesday
We could be there for each other
I would still sell my shoes