it was a warm day in October

when our feet finally took hold

of the same earth that cradles

every beast in this world

when before night we had devised

how to make paper from skin

and we took care as we took turns

carving our initials in

and although we both knew too well

we were only built of flesh parts

we dared to write “Forever”

beneath the names and the heart

as the lichen testified before us

that every dream can and will

reach great heights when dreamt asleep

beside the Falls of the Neverkille

and you took the time to pause the day

to promise me you always would

meet me here with shelter

if the winds of pain passed through

though I knew you hadn’t much

lining the pockets of your green dress

still you told me in no ambiguous terms

I’d always have the better half

but the words that would burgeon

from the gardens of your tongue

was all it ever took to make me want

to taste the air with my lungs

now at times I wonder if the crab-apples

we ate were maybe just starch

but they were ours and they were so sweet

sat, watching the crayfish march