Homecoming v3

the crackling groan of the hallway stairs
suddenly stirred back to consciousness

it reminds us of life
and of past lives

of travelling and sleeping
under clear moons
under birds of prey

nocturnal passages
untouched by time
unmoving

the train that is always gasping in
the cold valley
jogging in place
breathing thick white air
caught by moonlight
shining off of snow-capped hills

waiting in motion

i came back in some small part
because i knew you were dying

and i wanted to again touch you with my hands
and laugh with you again
and eat food with you and feel the warmth of your home
against the cold night

and move
around
again

before we settle back into this room
forever still in our places
with turkey and carrot soup
to forever be followed by
pumpkin pie and coffee
untouched forever
anticipating food
but never again eating

tick tock

I expect nothing to ever happen again but this:

That we eat until we are full
And then eat some more
pumpkin pie and coffee
that we laugh away the night's black frost

haunted, yes, still,
by the unmovable darkness of our youths
and still, by the dark failures
of our futures in their unmovable certainty

and tonight when we are full
of ourselves and of living
and alone once more
the old tree stairs in the hallway
can mock us away to our dreams

tut-tut