fragile as a month
of mondays
sky lit up with amber shows –
lazy as a dream returning
down these crooked
dusty roads

drop me by
the way to someplace –
wandered home this way before
told myself another story –
I won’t miss you any more

the way so weary
trees were crying –
bowed to bone beside the creek
red sky nights
of ruby ribbon
whisper strung from evergreen

wrote a note
with purple crayon –
pinned it to the lantern’s bright
begged you find me
on the pasture –
counting lives by firelight

first as I and you were
early –
caught your look of sweet surprise
paradise was missing somewhere –
dare I step into
your eyes

asked you not
of plans for leaving –
drew a map to heaven’s gate
told you more
than I could ever
take it back
one word too late

knew their names
each constellation –
sisters
brothers
venus
mars
traced them all as if I never
knew you’d go –
this close
this far