“Space Pirate”

Why does this space pirate
sense of something familiar?
What about his ragged smile
what part of tattered cloth
pulls the corners of my mouth?

I have stood here many years
there’s wait heavy on the air
tying a cloth around my wrist
holding brush to empty canvas
encouraged only by this memory smell

I think we have danced before
he’s held his hand in my hair
or were those his expressive hands?
What about this space pirate
feels so crucially familiar?

There was a shouted promise
I’ve held it so long, I’ve forgotten
The words have left me
but the skeleton is still in my hands
I’m reminded by this smile

What about the colorless dawn
what about the red and blue ribbons
what about the yellow hair
what about the ships wheeling overhead
what makes me cry?

I have aged several years
grown many more in expectation
I’ve lost track of my days and dawns
but this dawn was promised
It all feels so familiar
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