Looking back, they were easier days,
sunshine Muncie, lemon wedge awash
in purple beer, and we lifelong students,
no need to report to class, sprinting
across campus under nightfall, snicker
as we whisper, you are my slice
of infinity, report to work at sunrise,
cut class for drive-thru coffee
the minute you text –
Our inner children, those were
their final hours, so we lit up
those rafters, lullaby audacious,
oh, we grieved in our dreaming,
somatic scrape of a heart’s first
breaking, compared scars under
barstool lighting, children still
finding play at hour eleven –
before divorce or credit debt or
cocaine Joey or the
phone call that catches in
your sternum and stays, stays, stays,
only thing worse would be
forgetting.
My mind wanders to your mother,
then wanders to my mother and I
chastise myself selfish, I wonder
about the last bite of food that
made her eyes widen, I
wish to see it, hear the belly
laugh catching her unawares,
the final movie to push her to
tears, glimpses of a woman
that was, and is, I know, I know–
you are her slice of infinity,
in her absence, her presence
echoes, press my ear to your
chest to listen, eyes shut,
marvel at the melody
she knew without practicing.
michael king 