this time around

this time around
----------------------------------

when we could be reckless
breaking hearts, missing signals
keeping secrets meant for disclosure
making shit up &
when we had time to make
so many mistakes we had to
redefine the term
we did

and took more wrong turns
than our wheels could handle

enough to know, to remember, to learn
not to do that again
or jump into empy pools or
climb over steel walls, but

this pool: taken full, filled &
overflowing this pool is safe
and these walls did their job
enough and can now rest
because we both know
this time around is better
so much better than before
and too precious to break

(c) 2016 douglas brent smith