POEM: “Hold” — I’m sorry I wanted to invade your life / But you had such a hold on mine.
Hold
I watched your jacket with such ferocity
And I know you said it twice to me:
“Watch my jacket, no really, watch it for me.”
It was a parka, striped lining, it was green.
I felt fucking heroic.
You watched me put my bag on the chair
And then as I left it there:
You sprung up like a bouncing hare
Nabbed it quick, tucked it under you just there.
You thought I was fucking stupid.
I’m going back now and it makes me smile
My street runs north south, right? Been a while.
I won’t take the side streets by day nor night
The river runs east west; I’ll do fine, good advice.
We maybe had a good time.
I drank too much, let go – could have died.
“I got you home safely, didn’t I? Didn’t I?”
I hate that truths are covered in snide
That honesty gets couched in a book, some lies.
I’m sorry I wanted to invade your life.
But you had such a hold on mine.
Sylvie Hill 2018