Halfsies
We took a walk, him and I.
We walk every now and then,
When I remembered him.
He always made time.
We said nothing, silence
Save for June bugs
And frogs in the marshes
We walked.
I grew hungry and he knew it.
He took a sandwich from his pocket
I'd like that, I said.
He gave me half.
After a while he stopped to fill
A paper cup in a stream and he drank.
I'd like that, I said
He gave me half his cup and I drank.
After a bit we passed a field of flowers
One large sunflower stood close to us.
I'd like that flower. I said.
So would I, he said.
He climbed a fence and got the flower.
I expected him to give it to me
But he grasped the center of the blossom
And ripped the head deftly in two
I stared at him, blankly.
Now we both can have it, he said.
I held my half and couldn't
Look at it, saddened.
After a while, I saw a beautiful feather
Brown, green, in the long grass
I'd like the feather very much, I said
So would I, he said.
He tromped through the grass and secured it.
Once gotten, he broke the spine in two
He gave me half.
I was growing angry.
We walked on, our path strewn
With a birds nest and one unbroken egg.
I'd like that egg to keep, I said.
So would I, he said and broke it.
He gave me my share, insides falling out of my half.
I scowled and gave it back.
I didn't want anything broken
I didn't want half.
A ways on I saw a cat
Sleek and pretty with a plume of a tail.
I'd like that cat, I said.
So would I, he said.
He grasped the cat, by head and rump,
And tore it, right down the middle.
I screamed out as blood, intestines and
One last blood chilling cry escaped the beast.
What are you doing? I yelled.
You killed it! I would rather you keep it
Than kill it. You killed the flower, ruined
the feather and the egg and now a living creature!
What's wrong with you?!?!?
Real, truthful eyes met mine.
I was just going halves with you, he said.
What? I asked.
Time, the sandwich, the water, the flower,
The feather, the egg and the cat.
I thoughts that is what you wanted, he said.
How could you think that, I asked.
You gave me half your time, half your talents,
Half your attention, half your life, half a say.
I just did things as you did,
You started it.
I glared at him, spiteful and yet, ashamed.
How did I start it? I asked.
He took something from his breast
Pocket and put it in my hand.
It was half of a human heart.
Blood still oozed from its arteries
Valves hung off it uselessly, yet
It beat, halfheartedly.
Gross, I whispered, shocked.
It is yours. You kept the rest for yourself.
You wanted us to be everything to each other
Inseparable, but you only gave me half.
From the start, you only gave me half
It is all I have had ever since, he said.
Birds chirped and frogs mated.
Wind blew and grass rasped as it swayed.
I stood there looking at half of my own heart.
Ragged tear lines down the flesh edge.
You can have it back, he said.
If I cannot have it all, it is not really worth much.
He walked away and let me be.
We took a walk, him and I.
I on the left, he on the right.
Two friends, two of us
Master and apprentice on a green road
Trees, sheltered us.
Sunlight poured or maybe
Clouds rained on us.
You see, today's walk was different.
We talked, really talked.
As we walked, we talked
And as we talked, I shared everything.
I told every dream and thought, fear and hope
Every boy and girl in my life
Was taken to him as I talked, walking.
Before I left, I gave him two halves of my heart.
I know it's broken, but it's all of it, I said.
I know how to fix this, he said.
I figured, I said.
See you tomorrow? he asked
Same time, same place?
Anytime, he answered.
8/22/11
We walk every now and then,
When I remembered him.
He always made time.
We said nothing, silence
Save for June bugs
And frogs in the marshes
We walked.
I grew hungry and he knew it.
He took a sandwich from his pocket
I'd like that, I said.
He gave me half.
After a while he stopped to fill
A paper cup in a stream and he drank.
I'd like that, I said
He gave me half his cup and I drank.
After a bit we passed a field of flowers
One large sunflower stood close to us.
I'd like that flower. I said.
So would I, he said.
He climbed a fence and got the flower.
I expected him to give it to me
But he grasped the center of the blossom
And ripped the head deftly in two
I stared at him, blankly.
Now we both can have it, he said.
I held my half and couldn't
Look at it, saddened.
After a while, I saw a beautiful feather
Brown, green, in the long grass
I'd like the feather very much, I said
So would I, he said.
He tromped through the grass and secured it.
Once gotten, he broke the spine in two
He gave me half.
I was growing angry.
We walked on, our path strewn
With a birds nest and one unbroken egg.
I'd like that egg to keep, I said.
So would I, he said and broke it.
He gave me my share, insides falling out of my half.
I scowled and gave it back.
I didn't want anything broken
I didn't want half.
A ways on I saw a cat
Sleek and pretty with a plume of a tail.
I'd like that cat, I said.
So would I, he said.
He grasped the cat, by head and rump,
And tore it, right down the middle.
I screamed out as blood, intestines and
One last blood chilling cry escaped the beast.
What are you doing? I yelled.
You killed it! I would rather you keep it
Than kill it. You killed the flower, ruined
the feather and the egg and now a living creature!
What's wrong with you?!?!?
Real, truthful eyes met mine.
I was just going halves with you, he said.
What? I asked.
Time, the sandwich, the water, the flower,
The feather, the egg and the cat.
I thoughts that is what you wanted, he said.
How could you think that, I asked.
You gave me half your time, half your talents,
Half your attention, half your life, half a say.
I just did things as you did,
You started it.
I glared at him, spiteful and yet, ashamed.
How did I start it? I asked.
He took something from his breast
Pocket and put it in my hand.
It was half of a human heart.
Blood still oozed from its arteries
Valves hung off it uselessly, yet
It beat, halfheartedly.
Gross, I whispered, shocked.
It is yours. You kept the rest for yourself.
You wanted us to be everything to each other
Inseparable, but you only gave me half.
From the start, you only gave me half
It is all I have had ever since, he said.
Birds chirped and frogs mated.
Wind blew and grass rasped as it swayed.
I stood there looking at half of my own heart.
Ragged tear lines down the flesh edge.
You can have it back, he said.
If I cannot have it all, it is not really worth much.
He walked away and let me be.
We took a walk, him and I.
I on the left, he on the right.
Two friends, two of us
Master and apprentice on a green road
Trees, sheltered us.
Sunlight poured or maybe
Clouds rained on us.
You see, today's walk was different.
We talked, really talked.
As we walked, we talked
And as we talked, I shared everything.
I told every dream and thought, fear and hope
Every boy and girl in my life
Was taken to him as I talked, walking.
Before I left, I gave him two halves of my heart.
I know it's broken, but it's all of it, I said.
I know how to fix this, he said.
I figured, I said.
See you tomorrow? he asked
Same time, same place?
Anytime, he answered.
8/22/11
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