Rhapsody In Retrospect

“A storm,” she averred in blue tone
I didn’t care much either way.
This was always us
she always was.

Evenings spent cloudy
reticent before the endless
lavender firmament
swallowing hope
with no faith to chase.

Cigarettes trembling magenta flesh
she put the bottle down
out of reach.
This was always us
she always was.

Love is the letter undiscarded.
Memory is the scar unavenged.
Fate is the broken unicorn
watching Tennessee burning.

That was always us
she was always

until the storm came.