leaving Montgomery Park

a poem for Tay

we’re careening— well, that
sounds dramatic. not

careening— but
sliding, holding you

and myself in place—
because my disposition

leads (and has always led)
to believing abandon reckless 

will kill if I let it as close
as myself and yourself

held only by bicycle rope
or kayak rope or moving box rope

side beside inside truckbed
backseat forgone

throats slicked with City of Roses
forest gin and Artemis Moons

I’m sober and you’re not
I’m anxious and you’re not

you’re carefree spit-balling 
about side parts and 
saying love and love

as we pass long-haul truckers—
eyesclosed Lyft drivers—

that pinkie-promise
coworker to fast friend
elbow to elbow 
barefoot to clogs 
off in the cab
shallow river dipping 
mask off cheek pinch 
I-tell-everyone-you’re-my-cousin 
kind of love 

that no mother could ever 
that no father could ever 

that kind of love
that door we kicked 

down and threw into that
mustard bonfire of before

that old worthless hinge
don’t work so won’t bother

not ever not now
not in this truckbed—

I toss my thoughts to traffic
fine me $900 for littering 
lock me up for language

you say what a beautiful city
my glasses are in my pocket

those empty offices
stacked apartments and
windowbeam glitterblurs 

fall into the nightvoid






I’ve seen beautiful
and more unmatched in 

those words you weave
so keep weaving them— 










I’ll be here listening 
long after we pull 

into the driveway.

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I want to dedicate more poems this year to others; while I tend to write a lot of confessional and personal work, I’d like to get back into more collaborative work with and for others.

Also—Happy National Poetry Month!

Are you reading any poetry collections or poetic work right now? Do you have a favorite poet or poem? Have you discovered any new poets this month?

Drop your recs here or by DM, please and thank you!

Megan

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