we tried making it
up the hill
where there was that damned bird
(hawk)
encircling the steep
and air knifing so cold
but you told me
your parents would adore me
as we gracefully opened the door.
I wanted to linger by the door,
since something told me
that the bird was trying to
listen in. I fisted my hands,
but they thought I was scared.
we tried winging it,
up the hill
where there was that damned thought
(fear)
circling my eyes
and abandon was stripping so fierce
but you told me
your parents might ignore me
as we forcefully opened the door
I wanted to run out of the door
since something had told me
that the thought
was trying
to listen in.
I covered my ears but they
thought I was deaf-
thought I could land/lock/land/lips
not knowing to embarrass;
so we told them about the engagement
and I stormed out and lit a cigarette
and that damned knifing air
that damned stripping abandon
killed when you said you’d do anything for me,
but since we came by cab and I left by cab
I payed on my own and it was on my tab
and I left you, a ring still on my finger
but it was like living in a dream
and I don’t know if
I dropped it in the ocean half-asleep
or swam inside to get a closer look at the
ocean’s water breaking, and decided it wasn’t even worth the trouble
of diving beneath the waves to save it.
Copyright 2015 Golden Star Poetry
Golden Star Poetry 