Palmetto

Metal against metal
Palm against palm
The blue room glows
Like the casual brush of a hand.

A familiar place unexplored,
But I feel full.

Bliss is a hard word to describe.
Too many adjectives and emotions,
But maybe it feels like this.

Her entire life divided into boxes
Kids left to sort it while she stands guard
Yellow paper and minuscule font contains the most personal details
“Don’t look,” they said.
It’s hard not to.

***

Fatal hilarity one might call it.
Nothing can wipe away the spread of the smile
or the deep laughter.

Except for that distant thought.
I know nothing and
it doesn’t bother me.
Yet.

The murmur of voices float behind us
Wet air and a starry sky
Weighted eyelids fall softly
You shake me awake.

I didn’t know back then.

I realize it now.