Here is where you lied to me,
in the old hollow tunnel, overrun with ants
before anyone realized how the black
plastic burned our bodies in the sunlight.
Here is where I stood at the top of the slide
and wished that I wanted to fly
because of and in spite of you,
but instead I slid down and the metal scorched
what skin wasn’t covered by
your hand-me-down skirt.
Here is where the cemetery behind the
playground
meant nothing
and the gravestones were just part of
our pretty green backdrop
and I never realized I would lose you
to something other than death.
Here is where I ate watermelon on the
picnic table,
but you didn’t like watermelon
or banana-flavored candy
or when I showed you the contour of my dreams.
Here is where I almost told you “happy birthday”
after my lips had been painted
with vanilla frosting and
you almost smiled and
I have never known if we would still be
whispering secrets in the shade of
a cemetery if I had.
Here is where I learned I had a choice for myself.
Here is where I rode the tire swing, alone,
after you walked away and
I discovered it felt
just as hot and black without you.
Here is where I escaped after leaving ten bags of
banana-flavored candy in your mailbox.