Like He's Never Felt Her Figure Before

4/25/10
Dedicated to Cameron Mo

We became one shadow,
You and I,
As you kissed me back one last time.

The shadow stretched wide
Beyond our fences,
Beyond the state border,
Way beyond the shorelines
Of the dirtiest beaches on the east coast
And it went stretching and stretching
As if it grew tired
Like you used to stretch gingerly
Before I pulled you to bed,

Before you lay down to sleep
As if I wasn't there

As if I hadn't been waiting for you to come home
From a hard day's work from a job you abhor

From the days long past
That you used to adore
Before the kids came
And before we knew love

Before, when you barely knew me at all
And I took you for someone
Who'd always keep time
And always keep promises,
And abstain from cruel lies

Someone I thought would be by my side
When my body grew weak
And my shadow bent down

Someone to pick me up at those times
And stretch out the woman you would always desire.