Describing An Arc
How to describe...
buried in traffic on an interstate spur
reading out of state plates to pass the time
sitting behind a Tennessee semi
got her name on the rear gate scratched in the grime
but I no longer feel her, I no longer see her face
and we are over now
the song that called her to my heart was home
oh but she don't live there any more
it bounces off four walls of cinderblock
left to waste beside a rusted, bolted iron door
her need defined us, her lack of need, it broke us
she needs another now
and in my mind I'm
describing an arc in the trees with a path leading under
daylight ahead in a clearing, but I feel it drain
day turns into night
moment by moment she slips through the fabric of feeling
and her going washes our love out of space with the wind and the rain
I gaze down the highway that brought me to her
miles away — shake myself and I drive past it
comfort in the tarmac and trees and skies
knowing she was at the end of the road
at least as long as we lasted
but this was all about her and the love she never...
she is leaving now
and in my mind I'm
describing an arc in the sky that spans a great river
considering crossing and never returning again
night turns into darker night
she slips through the toll of my memory
and her going washes our love down the stream with the joy and the pain
she slipped through my fingers like Balinese sand
I cautioned my hand to hold lightly but not to release
I couldn't do it
I blew through her fingers like dandelion seeds
whipped through the weeds and set down in a dry, barren crease
nothing to it
the cosmic joke that the universe played
striated and strayed too close to my heart when I had her
she was never affected
the mistake that God intentionally made
got a gelatin blade to slice to the heart of the matter
good luck getting that bisected
I had the whole fucking speech nailed down
oh, did I go to town
but she wouldn't hear it
embarrassed myself like never before
she shut the door
and I never got near it
I've told her everything I have to tell
she'll hear just what she wants to hear
if she cares to relate it her story will change
the stains will fade over memory and years
that she had never felt me, she never saw my face
I was never there
and in my heart I'm
describing an arc in the clouds after rain has passed over
the thunder receding as evening dissolves dark to pale
when does night turn into happier days, happier days
happier days, happier days, happier days, happier days
second by second she slips through the gate of my passion
and her going washes our love out of time with the flood and the gale
happier days, happier days
happier days, happier days
happier days, happier days...