Every key on my ring lost its purpose
The houses (yes, two) moved away.
Every key on my ring lost its purpose
even the one that didn't open
anything. It used to hang
from her neck and wink at me, a friend,
while we leaned in locked doorways
and her hair caught my workman's knuckles,
while I felt her moonlight sink
in my fingerprints.
When I asked her what she wore it for,
what she'd creak open with it, she held
her blush inside a laugh and dismissed
me with the truth, the pretense that
when she said "her heart" she wasn't serious
because her mouth twisted to the wry side
and her eyes were closing doors.
I bought her a locket, open lock-plate,
hung it on a chain and slipped it
on her neck. It wasn't long after, then,
that she handed up her silver-plated,
copper-showing key. One night while I slept
she thumb-tacked it on my wall.
When I saw it the next evening - I woke up
before the dawn - I lay beneath it,
revelling in the pillows, in the linger
and the ghost that was her scent.
Now I have lost my houses.
And my countries.
The door in which that latch-key fit.
That little key wound up my watch
until I misplaced it, so foolish,
so careless. I would leave all of my lost
within the fog if it meant I'd see the plate
that fits this key, that's worn its silver color off
by hanging at her chest. And I'd leave the key
if it bought me one minute of her sweat
and perfume, of my wild girl. I wouldn't even ask
her touch. I just need her to stand
a foot from me, to smell her hair sail in the breeze.