Recessional - Vienna Teng

«It's so beautiful here,» she said

«This moment now, this moment now,»

And I never thought I’d find her here

Flannel and satin, my four walls transformed

But she’s looking at me, straight to center

No room at all for any other thought

And I know I don’t want this, oh I swear I don’t want this

There’s a reason not to want this, but I forgot

In the terminal she sleeps on my shoulder

Hair falling forward, mouth all askew

Fluorescent announcements beat their wings overhead:

«Passengers missing, we’re looking for you.»

And she dreams through the noise, her weight against me

Face pressed into the corduroy grooves

Maybe it means nothing, maybe it means nothing

Maybe it means nothing, but I’m afraid to move

And the words, they’re everything and nothing

I want to search for her in the offhand remarks

Who are you, taking coffee, no sugar?

Who are you, echoing street signs?

Who are you, the stranger and the shell of a lover

Dark curtains drawn by the passage of time

Oh words, like the rain, how sweet the sound

«Well anyway,» she says, «I'll see you around.»