Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind

out of mind

out of sight

was what you said last night

as the light was turned off

and I walked away shackled in shameful handcuffs

skillfully placed when I wasn't looking

 

out of sight

was what we used to be

strutting our stuff across the stage

like when James Brown was all the rage back in the day

we were the soul couple #1

but when the performance was done

the curtain came down

and no one called for an encore

 

out of mind

is what I was

and what I am today

walking past me without a word to say

a cold look penetrates my being

and what I'm seeing is snow melting slowly

uncovered

the uneven pavement

with last summer's trash

still piled up beside the gutter

 

out of sight

what I once felt for you has been packed

neatly stacked in a box

set lovingly in the far corner of my attic

some days when you call me

inquiring as to

where I placed the key to the trunk

in which I stored what we once were

I pause before I speak

reminding myself that I did know you

once upon a time

 

out of mind

out of sight

one day

I will explain to the children this condition

fuzzy math

fuzzy addition

how one plus one

should have been one

and then adding two more

get the same result when done

and it added up correctly

not too long ago

 

so

now the door is closed and locked for the night

and I drive away

street lights shining before me

as I accelerate to the acceptable speed limit

leaving yesterday in the rear view mirror

sounds of John Coltrane replacing you

who had been

 

once on my mind

once in my sight

once on my mind

once in my sight

and I never bothered to ask you

if I ever existed at all