Speak to me

“You talk to me, as if from a distance, and I’ll reply

With impressions chosen from another time, time, time,

From another time.” (Eno)

The early morning is wet from last night’s showers

And the soil in the garden is black and fragrant.

The soft light takes me back and I want to hear

Your voice.

Talk to me about a band you heard

Or a boy you liked.

Tell me please how to get mascara to stay in place

And not leave a surrealist mustache on my cheek if I sneeze.

I want to watch you play the piano

With fingers long and delicate,

Your brown hair falling in waves around your face.

I want to see you smile.

Mostly though I miss talking with you.

You loved so much to talk and you loved

To listen, as if I had something to say,

As if you were proud of me.

Talk to me about swimming.

How is it you made the butterfly look so easy?

Teach me again how to braid my hair

And how to make those Christmas cookies you called “reindeer balls.”

Tell me what the stain in my swimsuit means

and what it feels like when the acid kicks in.

Tell me why you have to move away and then tell me to go to sleep.

The last time I saw you,

you couldn’t speak at all anymore.

You showed me your garden and we walked in the woods.

Then, after another winter passed over your silence

And the lilacs were blooming again

You were gone.

I would give anything to talk with you today.

“The sea rocks have a green moss.

The pine rocks have red berries.

I have memories of you…

Speak to me.” (Sandburg)

For Ann, prompted by Brian Eno and Carl Sandburg

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