she holds my hand in the dark
“the sun will be out soon” she says
and i cry until i shake
in this time just before dawn
it’s easier to remember;
we have forever to not exist
there isn’t enough time,
before the day breaks -
i want to stare at the stars a bit longer
but as they fade in the bleary dawn -
sitting next to her as she sleeps,
i remember wood and steel in the fall
a trestle bridge over the wisconsin river
tired and rusted - tired and blinking awake
rushing water, roaring all around in the night
i hear it again now, holding her sleeping hand
i can’t let myself go where she can’t follow -
the star will go out soon enough