Mood

Mood

indigo—
"You ain't never
been blue"
Nina
crooned
as we cruised
the icy ridge
above the town
in my dad's
fine, finned
Dodge.

Nina was wrong,
you were,
just then,
beyond blue—
staring vacant
at the naked town
as we smoked
and spat
our way down
the rutted road.

You had
just been
expelled
from State High
for riding
a pony
down the hall
and cursing
like a cowhand
might
after a night
of witch's brew
in a Dodge City saloon.

I grinned
as you shredded
the expulsion paper
with your
hands and teeth—
and said,
"No one expects
that from a girl."
It was
the last time
I ever
saw you.

I heard
from a friend
that you are
in Seattle
helping wayward
kids
and
that the fire
you carried
in you
has dimmed.

How I wish
I had
said
nothing at all.
Beyond blue,
that indigo
mood
"Goes stealin'
down
to my shoes."