2 White Roses
on a list and a fifty dollar bill
nestled amongst white flowers
heavy as an infant
two stereotypes battling over wit
college girl and college boy
young and naive
secrets and strengths yet to be revealed
warm lighting and "it's so cozy" on repeat
yellow floating and invading spaces
pushing will and politics down young throats
fueling the contempt
I come back and she's sorting
and her thoughts are scattered
yeah she says yeah
energy reflecting the single lamp light
where two usually shine
and then
waiting for time becomes time for action
and this place is streaking pink
and my eyes are following the trail
zipping and halting and distracting
visions becoming the present
and all that came before is now the past
and what lies ahead is fostering the energy
what lies ahead lingers only in thought
but startled by memory
counting heads in rows
microphone feedback
watching lips to catch words I know I'm missing
cause all I can do is watch her
the pink streak
now a pink ball wound tight from its center
among rally cries and practice chants
we go walking far too fast to be effective
following a badge, a gun, and a mustache
stuck to a walkie fucking talkie
behind buildings lit by confused faces
through the smokers on their smoke break
still puffing away as we fly by
she tucks her hand into me
grabs hold of my arm
we're moving so swift into the future now
and she's back to streaking
and I'm back to watching the trail
till she sits
back to the ball
pulled tighter in on itself this time
head tucked in for the crash that's coming
caught
released
catching hesitation
releasing assumption
a quiet room with screaming minds
kleenex and cupcakes
blood red witnesses
staring at a clothesline they'll never see
silence
single voices
she shakes
tenses
obligatory sacrifice
clapping
one hand to leg when she can
stories told
stories bled
rocks and words and affirmations of power
in the end
in the end
there is no end
just tomorrow
filled with the memory of two white roses
September / October 2005