brass / words / 2006 / That

that's her hairtie
            in the stairwell
in the stairwell of
my
mind

do I pick it up?
dust it off?

or do i
            let
                        it
                                    sit.

trouble stirs with it
deep inside.
stir
stir
stir
            sometimes.
it's hard to let go.
            sometimes.
it's hard to be me.

hanging on.
with her.

hanging on.
with me.

the past.  is brittle.
                        it seems?
countenance wanes.
please don't wane. with me.

trouble is
where does she begin.

?

where does I end?
is trouble.

finger by finger.
I slowly
pick up
that
hairtie.

of hers.
of mine.