Crimson and Green

Mike Denison (Lumberfork)

This is the last one. Letting go is not something I am good at, but this is the last one.

–

You could feel your mother and your father scold,
But you only regret what you fail to behold.
After all, it was a once in a lifetime scene.
So I helped you down to the grass, I think,
And that old, sweet dog, she laid down at your feet
Just to keep you warm while the sky turned crimson and green.

And sometimes she still lays at night
In that very spot where you said goodbye.

A shooting star lit up the sky
And a southbound train inched slowly by.
But we didn’t notice. The universe was ours.
Your breath beat on, labored and faint,
But you soldiered through without complaint.
We stayed and wore that mid-night light for hours.

And sometimes she still lays at night
In that very spot where you said goodbye.

Sophie’s grown, but still loves to play
In that soft green grass where we used to lay,
Or watch as the dog chases down the trains for hours.

Still sometimes we all lay at night
In that very spot…