Tuesday, March 10, 2026

Tortoise

Dear friend 

Dearest of dear friend - whose existence is now 
A mere memory - a triangulation of how I was 

I passed the ihop where I told you I caused death 

You passed the syrup - and never hated me - it was 
Very dainty of you to pass your clean napkin - and

The shrug - the short smooth shrug that said it all 

I passed the apartment where we met and gave money 
So we could play pretend and drink and then go dance

How many clubs - how may men did I wander off with 
How many times you waited and pulled me back: held 

My hair and listened 

Just listened - how you sat at the table as I floundered 
Around on what was not the most joyous moment of life 

How my dress fit in your car - and we drove around 
One word from my lips: we could have gone anywhere 

Instead you dropped me off 

Fluffed my dress: delivered me inside: a marshmallow 
Ready to prance and cut cake and take endless pictures 

My dear friend 

My dearest of friend as you rest or swim in the deepest 
Oceans - your shell hardened - dream in blues and greens
 
I will be there 

Such shades

          Match 

your milky white skin - and that small shrug when the world gives the hardest hits - a tilt of the head, a smile 

And it all becomes