i beam

last night at
1 thirty
a m

i ran
i jumped
i grabbed
i beam

i flipped

and it was

awesome

work

this place is dark
and i have to leave early
to arrive early

to stay late

today is awesome

you aren't here anymore
and i don't think i like it

they put someone else in your place
and now i have to play nice
instead of being real

'today is awesome'
says the little sign
but i couldn't disagree more

snow day

there is a salt stain on my shoes
that runs from left to right
and up my pant leg
like a crusty reminder
of my inability to pack correctly

like mountains

we hold back until we can't run away

like mountains over years waiting to be a volcano

there's something here i'm not to sure of

and to be honest it feels better than before

and it feels better every day

two

grab an oar

he said to me

as my pack laid at my feet

taking in the scent and coolness

of fresh water i'd never explored before

this was new
but oh so familiar
as I've read in books about whales
and men and shipwrecks and the ocean floor

my eyes are full of salt water
my mouth is full of salt water
my ears are muffled from the words you are trying to say to me

bradley

will we ever go
to that island on
lake michigan

off the coast
and far away

and this is not a chance
and not a change of pace
or a time to die
in that quiet place

damn it
you're far too young
to waste away

you've still got four kids
and three wedding days

and now we'll never go
to that island in the sand
that we passed months ago
when you were a better man

and if i'm alone, then you're alone
and if i'm afraid, then you're afraid