THE SUMMER OF THE EXIT

When the mustard bloomed

crayoning our wet hillsides

I thought I’d see you

you who walked out so long ago

one step into the drunken traffic

metal & flesh slammed together

a famous story

I couldn’t make sense of

whiskey burning my unkissed mouth

Love, here’s the delayed letter

full of marriage & longing

& escapades of small children

bright flowers moving

with each exhaled breath

on another morning in the summer

of the exit of paradise