Prior Things

Just a few minutes after

 taking them, I realized

 hundreds of buzzing flies

 were all over me

  

 I looked up and there you were

 reading

 You were on vacation

 vacation means leave

 means obliterate all prior things

  

 Here, why don’t I try

 why don’t I try to make you mine

 why – is a lack of imagination

 the crime?

 why don’t I try

 why don’t I try to make you mine

 why don’t I back you up against this

 moment

  

 So when you finally go

 when you choose to go

 I resume my little lower road

 and nobody needs to know

 will know that I ever meant

 to leave my 

 little lower road

  

 I watch the bird feeder

 out back in my parents’ yard

 the weight of that bluejay

 the bully steals it all

  

 And what must happen in your mind

 when you create those silences—

 Nevermind, I don’t want to see

 I know it’s got nothing

 to do with me.

  

 Here, why don’t I try

 why don’t I try to move aside?

 I’m still soft

 I’m still in my prime

 Why don’t I try

 Why don’t I try to move aside

 I’m still soft

 it’s still my time

  

 And when you finally go

 when you choose to go

 I resume my

 little lower road

 Nobody needs to know

 will know that I was only

 holding your place on this, your

 little lower road

 Your little lower road