Salt Year - Chris Bathgate

Seventeen years before

I should have hauled off and kissed her

Now I lace my wine with ginger

Just let my evenings pass

They pass

She’s whistling in a candy store

And I’m just screaming in the dark here

I’m just choking down a salt year

And sugar’s all I’ve longed for

I’ve longed for

I’ve longed for

Try again

Try again

I try again

Seventeen and there she stood

A photograph in my doorway

And I felt all my light leave me

My thoughts all tumbling under

After that my days resign to static and gray hair and soft cry

Like a cracked crystal second hand wine chime

Just clanging for a lover

I can love

Try again