Departure Minus Arrival

One woman had been in my life—even in my neighborhood—for a very long time. Many times we, or at least I, thought the future held our hearts bound, yet each time it was mine left unbound and alone... including this most recent instance in which she’s simply pulled up all stakes and physically disappeared without so much as a goodbye. One woman had just recently entered my life, and so much promise in my eyes will always prompt me to exercise patience and understanding as we orbit around each other’s habits and styles, but there is only so much trying a man can exert without a few minutes of breath or sight or sound before he has to throw in the towel. And, so… a new poem.

For days or years,

You’ve felt eternally here.

Whether I knew you

Or just met you…

The old you and the new you,

Now both gone.

I’ve denied it for too long—

Intent on the possibility of us.

Be that for the first time,

Or again.

To believe in the new you

That never arrived.

Or the old you

That never returned.

In your absence twice

There is no choice,

Not to leave or arrive,

Just let go.

The Arrival of Departure

dam up that sweet ice cream river
sell it to the villagers
sculp a temple to the luscious figure of the queen--
a sight, a smell of the dulce each day in pay--
on your knees for the churning of your heart.
your face buried in the sand if you can't stand the beauty.
when the clock strikes doce.
"the back" is back. sweet Mary Moses.
radiance reflects from inner skin.
floats across the water in flowing garb
form and function to make dogs whine.
divine and demure.
the hour draws near
when the crowd anticipates
the arrival of departure.