for joe (february 6, 1982 - november 10, 2000)
to me you are perfect weather
on days driving to your house
my face stained through the windshield
with teardrops of sunlight trickling
through the dead leaves
still clinging to the trees along the way
to me you are that feeling
between my heart and my stomach
and the excitement in our voices
the first
phone call after that first
kiss in the dark
to me you are days
when the dark crept more quickly upon us
and the words swirling on the table
and the dead leaves twirling in the air
and the coffee whirling in our cups
as our voices dwindled to winter wind whispers
to me you still run
down the stairs in your socks
and you slide across infinite hallways
until your warm smile fills my frame of vision
and you speed down eternal highways
melting everything behind you with light