We lay beside each other,
In a bed of spiky grass—
I expect the unevenness of the ground up in the hills,
But not here in the valley.
Sitting up, I turn to look at you
Your worn fedora is tilting over your eyes
Obscuring your glasses.
You look like you are asleep
With the way the shadows cover your face
But I can see you watch my every move
Though your lashes and they twitch as
Your gaze follows me.
You rest your hand upon my knee
As I sit up and lean back with my weight on my arms,
And my hair swings over my shoulders
While I think.
When we save enough money,
When I am done with learning
What I need to in order to obtain my degree,
And you’re done dealing
The drugs and smoking the THC.
I can’t wait for when the new beginning
Comes and the summers are done ticking
Down the days until the church bells sing.
I want my father to walk me down the aisle,
A simple ceremony,
White dress,
Few guests—
Short and sweet.
You’re not the doctor he wanted me with,
But the artist that fulfills my every dream.
I reach over
To tip your hat back,
And you peek up through the glaring sun;
Crooked smile cracking
As I caress the scarred cheek.
No glitter on my finger
Just promises that I know you will never break.
I know I have made the right choice.
