i never hated you

i don’t like writing about you

nothing personal

you told all your friends about me

and how crazy i was

i told my poetry all about you

and what a hurricane you were

when the buildings go down

so do the walls now

all the walls are gone

i still feel like New Orleans

Mardi Gras

sometimes

i don’t think you meant to hurt me

not at first

i guess we both f***ed up

a little bit

you looked really happy at graduation

even though i know

you didn’t want to be there

sometimes

i remember when

you looked at me like i was graduation

even then

you didn’t want to be there

i don’t miss it

nothing personal

i don’t think you meant to hurt me

not at first

but the fireworks blinded us

when spring came

you tried to trigger me in sociology

i can’t

forgive you for that

your eyes followed me to class

every hour

like wind

all the walls are gone

i don’t like writing about you

your eyes were hazel and i know you remember

the way i told you they were so beautiful

i was a breeze for you

i guess we both f***ed up

a little bit

you looked at me like i was

graduation

bachelor party

celebration

New Orleans purple and green

you poisoned my Burbon Street i can’t

forgive you for that

you didn’t want to be there

when the storm began i can’t

blame you for that

the structures

the rigid things

the buildings were the first to go

there are still seashells dead

fish beneath the trees

in my city park

my mouth is full of seaweed

there is sand beneath my skin

but all the walls are gone

i never hated you

nothing personal

.

.

.