The First Last Poem

John Coltrane was taking giant steps while
I felt like I was falling headfirst into a leap. For
the first time, I couldn’t make everything all right…
We didn’t make love at all that night.

The whole drive down, we didn’t say a word.
I was writing this poem in my head. I didn’t
tell it to you because I didn’t know what
you would think. What do you think?

We’re free now, my dear, free as birds descending
through the clouds. The wind catches our wings.
We soar amid the heavenly blue… Me and
you, but there was another there, too.

She wasn’t with us on our initial pilgrimage,
but I want to thrust her hands into the holy
dirt as well. I want her to join us while
I’m alone in my bed that smells of you.

By Michael Anthony Adams, Jr.
From his poetry collection Indigo Glow.