Poem: galveston

Photo courtesy of Adam Thomas / Unsplash

i woke up in galveston

(that’s where i met you)

the dark stained with blue like a wish

i watched you for hours, asleep right below me

the up & the down of your skin

what it is that i wanted was nothing;

just that you’d save me from wanting

but i was 15, i would have called you

a pink evening primrose or something

i now know why nobody goes

to galveston, texas & stays

the sea wall is honest, high tide is expected

no work can be done in this place

so i grew up in austin

& had awful dreams

of june making strides with aplomb

when i found you, i could breathe easy

(despite all the pain in my lungs)

you already know why i had to set sail

i’m not abbott’s favorite son

but i wound up all over

with so many faces

& loved you again with each one