A Beautiful Night

"...It's good for everybody

to hurt somebody once in a while.

Things I do to people I love,

shouldn't be allowed..."

-Adam Duritz

I sounded like a first grader,

sobbing into my paper cup

as my snow cone lay spilled

on the ground. It was easier

back then, not knowing

all of the crackerjack philosophy

that makes adults do the things

they do to each other.

I think back on past relationships,

and realize I have photographs

to prove we loved each other.

I'm not sure either of us needed

proof, so we never ended up

taking any.  Perhaps the need

to keep each other's souls' separate,

like wax paper between

chocolate chip cookies,

meant that photographs,

so oft accused of stealing souls,

were an unnecessary addition

to our complicated lives.

Perhaps we realized the limelight

was a treasure of our selves,

and together we discovered how

instead to be comfortable. 

We rediscovered Kevin Costner

one of those comfort nights

and fell asleep to his un-acting.

We cooked and became adept

domestics, finding an ease

and a passion that disguised

our own futile pursuits.

Disguises are dangerous

and like rotting fruit,

eventually show up on the skin,

which is why I remember first

grade and my snow cone,

rainbow-colored like a sunset,

melting slowly on the ground

as dusk settled.  I could smell

autumn in the dry wind kicking up.

The lamps were already lit

for the coming evening. 

It became a beautiful night.