I Love Poetry

I shouldn't be writing bad poetry about you
But still the words drip from me like tears
We talked like our lives would never be consumed
By banality

No, my Peter Pan, starry eyed surprise
Ice cream birthday cake
We were sea-foam, slagroom, secondhand smoke
Dancing through dust in a library
So close
We'd forget the distance between us

Red ochre, burnt umber, midnight blue bruises
Wearing the toothmarks like medals
I'll suck down your laughter, as bitter as vodka
And swallow and smile so you know that you're home

Take a fast train back to where it went bad
I'll patch things up, you won't notice the join
You knew me, you demon, you saw me too clearly
I was an animal, reading your mind
Running scared

The ocean you drained has filled up with my future
Without you
I'm up to my neck, drowning not waving

2am. Are you there?