An Aspiring Vagabond

By Ashley Shaw

Danny,

It is sunny here,

But not as warm as expected.

Dusty yellow rays bounce off

The shiny red paint

On my car,

But I still shiver.

I never realized how

Cold it could be

In Florida

-Leslie

Leslie,

I, too, am cold.

But for a different reason.

 I miss you.

 I wish you would come home.

 I can still hear your tentative footsteps

 Walking through our bedroom.

 It still smells like gardenia,

 Even though all of the flowers

Have died.

It is brisk here.

Love,

-Danny

Danny,

Yes, I am aware of your brisk temperatures.

Like the cold tone of your letter.

I made it to the beach today

And let my toes drift lazily

Against the water’s edge.

I wore my black bikini.

The one we picked out together

In one of those little stores on the

Jersey boardwalk.

I caught men staring at my

Rounded bottom.

I don’t know why I’m telling you this.

I chased the seagulls

Into the foaming surf.

It’s so beautiful here.

But I still long for home.

I hope you are keeping occupied.

-Leslie

Leslie,

I am keeping busy.

To distract myself from

Thoughts of your hair

And toes and skin and shoulders

And scent.

I feel your ghost in each

Breath I take, and

I keep thinking I see you

Out of the corner of my eye,

Your lips stretched into a smile.

It was so rare to see you smile

During the past few months.

I wish you were here.

Yes, I’m very busy.

-Danny

Danny,

I’m having my lawyer send up the papers.

Please sign them at your earliest convenience.

Why couldn’t you just talk to me?

We could have resolved this.

I’m sorry it worked out this way.

Why didn’t you just

Love me?

-Leslie

Leslie,

The papers are signed.

I’m sorry.

I wish I could have fixed this,

But I know

I could never be what you need.

I wish I could tell you

How much I love you,

How much I long for you,

How late I stay awake each night

Just thinking of your eyes,

But some things are

Better left

Unsaid.

-Danny