CANCELLIERI

I used to draw on my hands
You noticed it
We were in your white Dodge Shadow with the "Pave the Rainforest" bumper sticker on it
It was October
Clinton was president
We were parked outside of Hoyt's Cinema in Manahawkin, New Jersey
You drove me home
It was the first time you held my hand

Each day we spent together
Until I went to Belize, to the jungle
My father drove us to the airport in Philly in their red Hyundai Santa Fe
We were still kids then
It was 3 o'clock in the morning
You were still drunk in the back seat
It was May
Bush was president
The Iraq war was raging
I was having a bad reaction to the antimalarial
My guts churned
I fought with my head
I kissed you goodbye
I told you I loved you

Each day we spent together
Until you went to Uganda, to the jungle
You drove yourself to the airport in Hartford in our gray Toyota Rav4
I was sick
It was nothing new
I stayed with my parents in New Jersey
I sat on the beach
It was November
Trump was president
I thought of you across the ocean
You landed at night
You drove to New Jersey in the morning to get me
You told me that you loved me

Each day we spend together
We drive around in our green Toyota pickup
It's August
Everything in Vermont is so green
We are older now
We complain about things together
It's what people from New Jersey do
We battle with our demons
You dance to make me laugh
I use the wrong word to make you laugh
I had a dream about us
We saw Sirius rise into the night sky
We watch TV together
You hold my hand
I love you.