They took you away In handcuffs today In the boat, On the water, Under a reservoir sky.
I get in my car And buckle down Through three County lines, Foothills and fog
Coming down Old Freezout Way— All that space so much Space
I reached for your hand Prevention Shares a pillow Asleep in a room
You once called out ‘Next to,’ And you In your cold cell Call collect
To say that you’re fine. Our family lies Through a telephone line. So this is home for awhile? Really?
When I laugh I hear – in my head first, the reverb, The long hour fielding shadows, Walking the worn path
Of old carpet. I was with you today And hardly-- Alone in my head, in a car port,
In hallway instead, awaiting The next time we embrace
In distant cold. Detached and bound through strangling wire