A Summer Later Poem by Justin Tallman

All this time
I still feel weak
at the sight of her face

It all went wrong
The line fades to dots
and our hearts replaced

after a season of sharp tongues
former lovers turned opponents

morning routines interrupted
with daydreams of precious moments

Masking these emotions
behind painkillers
and silly Facebook statuses

dodging the memories
with F bombs
and psychological practices

a whole summer
drowned in alcoholic beverages
to drown out the sweet words
uttered from your lips

Yet I still hum
I still hum those tunes
played by the beat of my heart
and the swing of your hip

Dancing in your basement
snuggling under blankets
the cold atmosphere
defrosted by love

and now

alone
bitter
broken
confused

yet I still long for you