you're a mirror i cannot avoid

i caught you caterwauling

giving grief

thought you were cannonballing after me

i let your actions speak for themselves

and wished you well

but you're a mirror i cannot avoid

strung out and jittery and paranoid

a leaky battery that can't keep charged

get in the car

and say what you mean

explain yourself to me

and i'll try not to judge you more than you would

let me help

i promise not to tell

like anyone's asking or anyone should

first time i met you

i was full of fear

knew that eventually

you'd disappear

just when i needed you

you'd burned to smoke

and off you'd go

just come back and peel away the mess

lay here beside me and open your eyes

take it back

your dignity

your tact

turn back to the person you tried to let die

i caught you nesting with your analog

glassy eyed from kissing poison frogs

becoming infinite against his couch

open your mouth

and say the words

you used to wish you heard

back when you focused enough to be good

and if you're gone

an endless false alarm

just remember

i loved you

as long as i could