Our Last Walk Through the Old Town (in present tense)

You don’t know any better

 

My suggestion about the one and the three

being the place to lean

and the little step down

deep

that makes it feel like we know what we’re doing

even in the face of 

overwhelming evidence    to the contrary

 

Veronica is as close as we get 

to that

and her stance 

is arguable

at best

 

But, here we are

on a starry night

with enough chills, scarves and whiskey 

to keep us walking along, moving

and not worrying about crossing the street

where Jarral might be

where the lows stay low

not forever but for real

 

We know 

that once we stop

one of us will have to speak

I’m just worried that it’ll be 

me

I’m worried it’ll have to be

and am utterly relieved when

it’s you

 

The whys wheres and whoms are spit out in one run-on sentence

like you couldn’t keep them inside your crooked smile mouth           

for       one      more   second

 

and I won’t say that any of those

were a surprise

They were not but

 

Still, I puff out my chest

a protector

like I’d done months before when it passed time

for Paul to stop

for Paul

to leave

 

I don’t know that I was any more ready for consequences then

than I am now           but

I’m ready to try, same as I was

at least I think that’s what this is

this feeling

this thought

 

Tuning back in I think I hear something about a purple cat

Were we talking about brown bear? 

Or just help?

 

Yes, of course I will

yes, it’s no problem

yes, of course, Thursday afternoon

 

Yes

 

Uh, no, I won’t tell anyone

 

Why would I?

 

Who are they?

*An editorial suggestion brought about this rework of the last post. "Drag it into the light" they said. 

So, I did. 

Our Last Walk Through the Old Town

You didn’t know any better

when I suggested, for a moment, that you lean on the one and the three 

instead of the two and the four

taught you that rudimentary step down that made you feel like you knew what you were doing

Truth is, neither of us did

Veronica was as close as we got 

       to that 

and her stance was arguable, at best

But, there we were, on an autumn night with the chills, scarves and whiskey

just sort of walking along and not worrying about crossing the street 

    where Jarral should be 

                                       where the lows stayed low, forever and    a day

When the whiskey was gone it was apparent 

that we’d have to speak     at some point

                    we’d have to

           and then        you    did

The wheres, whys and whoms 

were all sewn up in the first sentence and 

I can’t say any of them were unexpected

I puffed my chest as a protector

As I’d done months before when it became time for Paul to stop

for Paul     to leave

Now, I don’t know if I could have followed through with that thought even though

I was definitely ready to try

You said something about the purple cat

That you’d need my help

Yes, of course, it’s no problem

Yes, of course I will

Yes, of course     Thursday afternoon

After the last of the last

I won’t tell anyone        

                Why should I? 

Who are they?