If the past
was so important 
it would be 
your now present 
pasts have purpose 
they inform but 
hopefully don’t influence 
pasts are a
part of time 
there’s no one 
to blame for 
whatever is behind 
except perhaps the 
earth doing what 
it naturally does 
around the sun
maybe take that 
as an example 

My life now 
is focused on
subtracting not adding 
I’m heaving overboard 
things and people 
which don’t serve 
my greater good 
this isn’t draconian 
nor is it 
selfish when one 
wants to float
one must cut
ties with anchors 
both present and 
those of past 
wishing to keep 
you there so 
they have company 

As I sit
here at dusk 
watching the last
shards of day
disappear behind mountains 
and night come 
to the city
I am reminded 
that this was 
your favorite time 
when you said 
the world turns 
its attention solely 
on welcome back 
how was your 
day without me 

Finally at last
I have learned 
that you are 
my favorite cocktail 
because you have 
both shaken and 
stirred me moments 
before you land
upon my lips 
and make me 
forget about everything 

And sitting here 
sitting here knowing 
knowing and thinking 
why and what 
why do what 
did and now 
just sitting here 
feeling the bottom 
drop out from 
just about everything 
and then this
gnawing persistent idea
keeping me anchored 
to my chair 
pride I think 
like Marley’s chains 
knowing that five 
steps two turns 
one bedroom door
away is you