An Echo

Somehow between us

The air became so thick

We couldn’t reach to the other

An insurmountable divider.

And I clawed at my throat

Thinking Hera must’ve cursed me.

I can’t say the things I need to.

I am just an echo bouncing

Off your forehead that’s tilted down and to the right.

You can’t even look me in the eyes.

And so we stay this way through Easter

As we drive up 35 in dark to go visit my mother at the prison in Topeka.

She is asking what’s the matter

As we stare into the vending machine

I can’t say the things I need to.

I am just an echo bouncing off the glass into our likeness

Whatever that is.

Could someone look me in the eye?

But then became the summer

When my hands appeared so useless

I felt like a little baby

And my pride evaporated

Like the water in a skillet

And you softened like some butter.

We never said the things we need to

But an echo fades eventually

And this is such a likeness

That is what it is.

You don’t even need to look me in the eyes.

You don’t need to look me in the eyes.