The Couple Among Us is breaking up

Two summers ago when they first wondered if it should end she asked me what to expect

And I said that it would be fucked for a long time

She was chuffed and said ouch why would you say that

After a long, 18 moremonths walk through the muck

Each dragging the other through brambly swatches 

And pausing for breath whenever a sunset was particularly bloody

They’ve come to the floating dock at the end of the path 

Where they’ll linger and tell each other the ways that they’re family

And describe what is unbelievably dear 

Then they’ll slowly take their clothes off and switch

Putting the other’s pants and shirt on, inhaling

And they’ll dive off opposite sides of the platform

They’ll float in the same waters without being able to hear or see each other

Sensing the other’s presence only through the tugs on the thread

That attaches from one’s nose to the other’s pinky

The thread will wither with time

Classically, imperceptibly loosening and fraying

And when one thinks to look for it and doesn’t find it they’ll flood the place with another round of weeping

Nothing left to do but swim on, they’ll flail like dolphins and sink like stones

Until they’re in their new rivers where they’ll rush and wait, baby salmon in the brackish transition

When they are salted enough for the sea they’ll find the new open world 

Dappled with sun and soft waves, which will agitate their fledging ease

They’ll swim down like anchors until the muck clouds like steam 

And they’re held determined in the familiar shadow grasp of their old love