Instead of walking backwards
Instead of lying ‘til all the blood left our heads
Instead of warming to regret

One night so far
I slept on the floor of the van
A letterhead
How close were the friends you’d never see again
How close had it all been happening

We drove beyond the pavement
We never made it to the top

Walked to see the Perseides
Only so many years with such an optimal
Zenithal hourly rate
But the clearings

Southwest of Portland
The northeast sky
Was completely obscured by the
Bright city lights
We couldn’t see anything
How can we by our own glow be polluted?

Two days so far
We met sitting in the back yard
Remembering names we haven’t heard in so long
Places we used to think we belonged
What’s it like
To see us again?
To be back at your old address again
Had it stayed when you had moved away?

Late the next night
We saw them cross the sky their last time

And still the bed wasn’t made to lie within it
I wasn’t home the time you came to visit
And still feel like something’s missing
Efforts to be more distant

There were no questions that you had to ask me
There were no complications as it was
We started sharing less and less
Adhesive releases if we pull gradually

Fostered unspoken disparity
Under a light it came gradually apart
Giving back half what we’re given

Opened the door to hear the street
End where the other starts
Hoping that we ever get back
Even half what we’re giving