Unsentimental

Traveling around

Sure of myself

Sure of it now

But you were standing there so close to me

Like the future was supposed to be

In the aisles of the grocery

And the blocks uptown

I remember

Remember well

But if I’d forgotten

Could you tell?

In the shadow of your first attack,

I was questioning and looking back

You said, “Baby, we don’t speak of that”

Like a real aristocrat

Compound to compound

Lazy and safe

Wanted to leave it

Wanted to wait

When the taxi door was open wide,

I pretended I was horrified

By the uniform and gloves outside

Of the courtyard gate

You’re not a victim

But neither am I

Nostalgic for garbage

Desperate for time

I could blame it on your mother’s hair

Or the colors that your father wears

But I know that I was never fair

You were always fine