Chalked

I remember the first time it happened
It was a Tuesday in late January
I swore I had forgotten who you were
My palms had no sweat and the air was calm

I caught myself that day juggling ideas, place to be,
And my relentless fascination with men and their complex realities
The tires beneath me spun smooth upon the coastal concrete
My palms had no sweat and the air was calm

I remember looking and stamping an imprint of the color of sky;
Which mathced that of the sea
Crashing white blankets upon sandy beaches
Wishing I was there-and without you
I didn't even think of you
And that's what felt so free
To just be me-alone
In a city near Redwood trees, a roaring ocean
A city that offered me a gentle breeze

I remember the first time it happened
It was a Tuesday in late January
I swore I had forgotten who you were
When I stood waiting at the light and saw no sign of your blue pick-up truck
You were gone, out of sight
My palms had no sweat and the air was calm

Simply remembering you often does me no good
That's why a Tuesday in January suits my mood
Your name for a day absent

And so it was easier
That Tuesday
Stepping down from the wheels below me
Walking the stairs to my physical activity
My palms had no sweat and the air was calm
The chalk stuck to my hands and I climbed on


written May 2008