Since You Asked: This is What I Remember (A Poem for Day Four of PAD)

Silly me, I get so caught up in my head that I forget about my heart, so I threw away the poem I was going to post and wrote another one (the one below). I feel better now.

By the way, here is the prompt for Day Four (copied from Poetic Asides):

For today’s prompt, take the phrase “Since (blank),” replace the blank with a word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of your poem, and then, write your poem. Possible titles include: “Since the Last Time I Smoked,” “Since You Said Please,” and “Since When.”

What Do You Remember?

Since you Asked

When I think of you, I remember
how you smoothed back rebel
hairs from raspy forehead instead
of tonguing sugar-cubed sweetness
with your words. You stared out
vacant windows, revealing gritted
teeth in your eyes. I remember
how your trench coat nestled you
to floral stools at that pit stop,
you grasping teacup’s hand-
le and swigging down black
coffee like a gloomy nightclub.
When I think of you, I remember
feeling saved from myself. You pulled
a rabbit foot from my hat
with your charm, but in truth, like you,
it was only an illusion. I was your side-
show act, a disposable ass-
istant. So now all I have left is
to think of you and remember.


*****