north east

after ripping up the wet cardboard,

a spark finally lit, but constantly needed air

eventually, the kindling also caught fire

before the firewood finally began burning.

it was just us two there while everyone was passed out

talking about it all, the weekend before senior year

during the winters, I hear your resilience

you ask about the sets I’ve been on,

I’m still begging you to play me one on one

though clearly we’re both falling out of love 

with what defined us in our youth 

every summer, I feel your warmth directly

when we go out, I want to tell you how I envy your gentleness

and how everything you say inspires me someway

but I know you won’t remember this conversation

or you might think I’m just saying this because I’m drunk

either way, whenever we’re in contact, 

you bring out my best self, and hopefully you feel similarly

and during severance

I find myself envying your strength during peril

meanwhile, i hope you’re inspired.

in another world, these rituals would’ve been with

those from that time who we loved the most

but here, it’s been each other

a relationship that is intertwined and complimented

contrasting our adolescence

as we are from two different worlds, but

are now reflections of the parts of ourselves

that we wish we would’ve had more time to explore 

maybe if you placed our minds into our past selves

our companionship would’ve been beautiful

still, the little time we get to speak now

makes me appreciate each word we say so much more

you always say that the universe knows

maybe it says we needed each other

so somehow, I’ll see you next summer.