Letter To Cornwall
do you remember this place by the ocean?
these coastal mornings with their Arena air
the wind from the crab dock almost strong enough
to be swept away,
running from growling raccoons
randomly reading names on boats-
The way I remember The day you said the word traded,
how it changed us, to me,
you brought me here in your little red car
I knew it wasn’t romantic
Dave passed out in the back seat
You chugging back a litre of water
Like you had spent the night in the Saharan
Even the car smelled hungover
Over there by those big rocks where couples watch the sun rise
Just a few feet from where I am now
You calmly wrapped your arms around me
The way waves cradle the sand
Then said “it was no big deal,”
And my sun set, turning me dark
The way you rationally explained it was “part of the game”
told me you had done this before.
Stood on a late spring morning with your arms around a girl
and told her that you were going home for the summer
like you always do and regrettably wouldn’t return with the fall.
Then left maybe on a greyhound or maybe In your little red sunfire.
I think about that girl left back in one of those little Saskatchewan towns
and wonder if she’s writing you this morning too,
I know about her because you came to British Columbia on a trade
and now I wonder if there is letter on its way
from the town in Alberta that sent you to Saskatchewan.
It’s kind of comforting to know that I’m not alone
To imagine all the girls left in limbo
Writing letters curled up by fire places, from small town diners,
Empty arena seats, front porch swings and, beaches
I’m watching the boats now.
Ships come in and make the harbor beautiful for a moment
and then sail away.
The team still skates everyday at five
I picked Dave up from practice
We had a mountain burger
And a couple of black Russians
I should tell you it ended there
But we came down here
And skipped rocks into the ocean
Laughing about old times
When he was the third wheel
And when he took my hand
I let him; it felt right at the time
So I’m not alone, but lonely
Is there a girl in Ontario who has already fallen?
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