I'm cleaning out a room,
clearing away the old
to temporarily house new,

when I see an old box in my closet.

the handwriting on it
brings a fond smile-

the paper flowers inside
hit me like bricks
and I put the box back for another day.

I have to bury this friendship
a little at a time,
even after these past two years.

It's too darn hot
and I can get little relief
other than by forsaking
a good night's rest
and consigning myself
either to faintly sweat under a fan
or curl up on an old couch
in the sweetly cold basement-

I miss snow.

Old friends can keep you
up late. Together you two
see a new day dawn.

Grabbing at new chances,
new paths forward,
with some hope and desire
to be anywhere else

It's strange to think
that one day I'll have a house
with shelves of movies I don't watch
and cds I stopped listening to,
and games no one in my house plays
except on rare occasions

There are still little things
littered about my room
that remind me
of the one I lost,
but there are two fewer
after today.

There are many wondrous things
placed carefully through my life
that remind me
of the one I love,
who is but a phone call
or a letter away

We're holding onto this moment
By the skin of our teeth
And claws extended
To keep these people here,
To stay
Even when we can't.

We've commenced;
We have degrees
And soon responsiblities-

And I'm on the couch
Where I've passed many a night
With old friends
And new alcohol,
Watching time slip through my fingers