FOREVER YOURS

you were the best of me
for a little while
and i thought
we'd break on through,
you and me,
the way we moved,
light
but solid,
your smile
cool on my lips
and fingers
like an angel's in my hair
and the worst of everything
tucked away,
the world
suddenly small enough
to fit in my pocket
and goddamn, sweet thing,
we didn't
give a shit
for any of it

but it's common knowledge
it don't last,
that you always take
more than give
and turn gold to shit
and bleed your lovers
in the worse goddamned way
and sure enough
that's what you did
every time
'til there was almost
nothing left
but me
sick
and lonely
and always broke
and damn, baby,
i just
wanted
you gone

and even now
with all these years
between us
you come around
talking shit,
making me think
it'll be okay
just once
for the good times
like the old days
when you held
my head in your
sweet lap
and stroked
and cooed
and loved me up
'til i thought I was king
and could do no wrong

but here i sit,
just another old man
with his face glued to the wall
hoping for the strength
to make one more
weary day
without you