We Don’t Know How

We don’t know how to say

I’m sorry, I forgive you,

it’s all past, I love you still.

Instead, we talk of coverings for floors,

of paint brands, contractors,

electricians, the cost of wood.

We don’t know how to say

the pain’s too deep

to heal enough to see

each other face to face.

Instead, we call each other

once a week, we chat

about the weather

and the price of gas,

how awful travel

is these days.

We’re long-distance

family, we’re just

better off this way.

published in Medusa's Kitchen