chords

can you still feel my cords? she

said often after the heat had subsided

and we were nearing sleep

at first i said yes, even though

i had no idea where they were

or if they still were

but like so many other lessons

from you i learned

after learning every square lovely

inch of your warm body

where your chords were

cords

there were other chords, also: lines

from your soul to mine

gullible at your will

veins

mixing sunbursts with rain

notes from my guitar, chords

calling your name

after long walks with puppy dog

after altercations over where

each or both of us would live (tell me)

can you still feel my chords

a thousand miles away?

-- douglas brent smith