ALMOST A STRANGER

before i loved her
there was
just you
and me
in that little trailer
behind sammy's house
getting water
for coffee
from the spigot
outside
and wondering
how we'd shower
in the cold
and god knows
it was awful
and wonderful
and nothing
and everything
i ever wanted --
not a girl like
you
but you
with that slow drawl
and that lazy
half assed
way of fumbling through life,
of shrugging
all the bullshit away
and taking it all
as it came
and, goddamn,
i loved every single
little thing
about you

and seeing you
now,
beautiful as ever
but almost a stranger
and the years
having melded
what pieces you left
into some semblance
of a heart
i know that you
were right
and it was best
and there was
something else,
something better
waiting for us
but damn, girl,
you brought
back some
memories