Kelsey

At first, Kelsey
was all bright. She wore
her window high
like her hair, up
and doing things
that shook my twelve-
years-crooked knees.


Kelsey,
everyone in Chippewa Two
envied you. Everyone of us, well,
we wanted to take you
to the Thursday Dance
to whisper fake secrets
and make the other fools
turn green and then blue.
Stephanie cried. It was my fault.
Kelsey, you and I exchanged.

Kelsey, you were up
and doing things, keeping me
awake so long that
I dreamt well
into the age of sixteen. I'll be
in the midst of these years,
good luck Chuck and all
whiney. Good grief.
Kelsey, I remember you

were all bright once. I didn't
ever see your hair
down. The soft hill
under your eye
called "your cheek"
turned red for
whatever reason, and I still
remember your phone number
because I called you every night.

And if I called it now,
you might still be awake
with your little dumb phone
in your hand, under the pillow and waiting
for my hand to squeeze yours
with a small, mechanical pulse.
We might still be able
to stay up a little while longer,
up and doing things, like
watching pointless T.V., making
microwave meals, playing silly
games like truth
or dare, these are the dates
I remember, Kelsey. Running
up my phone bill
just trying to picture you smiling

or maybe, if I called it now,
I'll find out that you
don't own those ten digits
I used to use to
call you up. Some
older man will answer instead
and tell me that he loved somebody
once, somebody who was all
bright and up
and doing things.

Reviews

[Emily B]

oh, this certainly hits home, I've been talking to somebody from the old school, remembering glory days, or re-remembering, i find that my ideas about who and what i was weren't at all fully formed then

this is sweet, reminiscent, lovely

[Muse]

I read a couple of your works...they read like a dream. Neither here, not there...indifferent to the reality that befuddles your thoughts. Simply beautiful...

[p.kuhl]

Thank you for the lovely compliment. I'm glad you enjoy it!

[tressa]

she wore her window high, like her hair.....