A Life, Forever
We were together, children
yes, children,
greedy,
hungry for it all,
enveloped in awe,
of the other,
together,
unaware
of anything but us
together,
like children, together
as children.
We were together
those years when we
weren’t together.
Trying to stay
together,
to be
together,
knowing
nothing
but nothing
ever stays
together.
Not this not that not me not you not you not you not you…
I have your letters still.
I have your photos still.
I keep them all together
tucked into two pockets
of a blue folder from 1992
inside of a clear, plastic bin
safe as safe can be.
I hoped to one day share them with you as if to say, “Here we were! Together! Remember? Remember when we knew what we forgot?”
I remember you
as a blackbird.
And if you can
remember me
wherever you’ve gone,
remember me
not as one crying
while remembering you
but as one trying
to keep it together
while remembering you so well.
For A.L.F.
1978-2024