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From: "Bad Dreams At Night"
The Longest Day
The longest day was spent
Letting coffee grow cold on the mantle-shelf
Beside the letter, written
But never stamped or sent
And as the darkened sky grew light
And filled our faces, filled our eyes
You sneezed and said
The pollen count must be high
The longest day was spent
Pulling tangles from your hair
And smelling shampoo scent the sweetness
Of the heaven of a mess
And on the lawn, the matting torn,
The rug would wrap itself around our arms
And though it wasn't cold
It kept us warm
And you showed me something better,
Sweeter than I'd known
And you showed me what happiness can be
If we dwell upon this moment that we stole
The longest day took pains
To still its winds and hold its tender rains
And the longest day was proud
And knew no shame
And in the light of day you'd smile
And kiss my cheek and kiss my eyes
And still the way I felt
Is some surprise
The longest day. We'd drink a while.
I'd walk you home. You'd sigh
Oh, you're so very quiet,
What's on your mind?
And half way up the garden path
I'd turn and say if this is not what you want
Please turn back
While we've done no harm
And our promises -
We said keep your promises to yourself
And our promises -
Were promised all to someone else
And our promises -
To keep us both from getting carried away
And our promises -
Fell to waste on that longest day
The longest day was spent
Sneaking quietly through the old park fence
And our footprints through the dew
Marked where we went
And broken daisies in our wake,
And I as I hauled you over the locked iron gate
You kissed my flustered cheek
And mouthed my name
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