It seems silly to confess such a vision
now, after so much time has passed
But such an image must be released
Like milk gone sour in the fridge,
flushed chunky down the john
How I would have followed you endlessly
how I’m built to follow, as a soldier
chivalrous in bruised armor, undefeated
Though appearing a king, I act a knight —
two forward and one over, L for loser
let’s invent our own games instead
How in my dreams, I submit my strength
in trusted servitude, loyal to my last breath
I am the lion that lays with the lamb
I follow you through fields, under stars, three hours
from home, flashlight in hand, owl calls on a speaker
hung from the lower branches of the pine
The air, cold and damp, presses us together
in scientific embrace and present ecstasy
end of winter love, blooming with spring
I follow you into the tent each night,
our bodies pressing squeaky air out of the mattress,
our throats downing iced coconut water, before each other
Our fingers feed furred friends before midnight,
Touch each other until dawn, pop and squeeze
tickle, tease, and cook together each morn
I follow you across the province,
each step a wish for you to accomplish your dreams
in my fantasy you have aspirations, and you name each one
Before bed each night, you whisper fairy tales to my closed eyes
All the places we’ll live and all the beings we’ll help
the examples we’ll set – no one will kill a spider again!
I follow you to a reinvented world, our happiness laid
bare and bearing only arms of peace, love
the kindness of your hand on my face,
the warmth of your embrace
I follow you from lake to lake –
I pack dinner for us to take and barbeque
watching the sunset over rough waves
washed smooth in the dusk
Though the water’s cold, and I know not its depths
my hand in yours, I dive, snorkeling for the first time,
submerged skin sensations new to my airy nature
I follow you down sandy coastlines,
metal detecting or searching for pretty stones
collecting materials, like magpies, for our nest
I follow you through ups and downs, hardships and
some celebrations do offer return on investment
I like you just the way you are, in spite of anxiety
I follow you until it’s dark, and you begin to fade away
and when this imagination ends, I know you do not stay
Because it was my vision, not yours
The Halfwit Writer 