Same one we hiked through
At midnight, the first time we met, years back
To hear what the wind had to say
Until a solo trip by light of day
That it was to walk past your father’s grave
Just invited me up for tea afterwards
Because you didn’t want the night to end
And sat me on the bark-stripped stump
I still correctly identified
((an arborist in his own footsteps))
I asked what tree you’d be
And you said, “Ohhhhh… I don’t know…”
But I, trilingual in tree rings, enigmas, and blurtings,
And you grew quiet at that
But played Kevin Morby until we were nodding to sleep
And I tripped away at half past 3
We only hung out that once
I still don’t honestly know why you chose me…
When we had barely chatted for a week
I had to use all these dichotomous keys
In the time since you deactivated
I still see you in the grocery store
Still think of throwing a ripe avocado
Wish I hadn’t reminded you
Of the ghost of the woman who haunted you
Than careless on the breeze
_______________________________
Maureen Armstrong @haikkun