Garrett Speller

A memory of someone long gone and a haiku we wrote together (a haibun)

My mind winks back a few years into the past, minutes and hours ticking backwards, letting
grandfather clocks suck up their chimes, pendulums fervently swept backwards until the
moment itself, empty, lifeless, like leaving a meeting before the bells ring, seeking an exit before
you’ve even been dismissed, the red light of the signs hanging in the hallway, too sweet a
temptation. I had admitted that I loved you, unfortunately, far too many days ago – and it
appeared that you’d forgotten already because your roommate was calling you and you had to
go – it was late, the lanterns on the street winking on and doors cast open, welcoming. But not
to me, not anymore, the lights of the living room inside just a spotlight, dancing over shadow,
over the concrete of the sidewalk as I wait, and – I’ll be gone, done waiting for you, gone —
gone for the appreciation of glory, and when the sun meets the dawn’s morning sky.


 
My mind
                                   suck                            s,                      fervently
                           empty, lifeless, like                                                                        seeking a
                                                                  light                                                              ,                    a
temptation.                                    I loved you       for                        too many days            and
                          you’d forgotten                because you                                                          you had to
go –                            lanterns                         wink             and doors cast           welcoming
                                            lights of the living room                                          dancing          shadow
over                             the                         wait                                                                  you, go     –
– go  for th                                           and                          meet  the                                sky.


 
                                                                                                fervent
                           e        y        es , like                                                                        seeking
                                                                  light                                                              ,
                                                                                                                        many
                  
                                  lanterns                                                                    cast                         ing
                                                                                                                                                         shadow
over
                                                                                                                                                sky.

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