Dust Hides Poem by Tammy Meskimen

Smiles of recognition, a hug for an old friend
Idle conversation turns to talk of mutual mischance
Shared loses, twenty plus years in the making
An aching slow song plays on the juke box, we dance

The intensity of the circumstance, the flavor of the drink
Each wanting to escape what is about to come
Two souls bonded by a need of comfort
Battle hardened soldiers trying to stay numb

We drink, we smoke, we leave that place
Dust hides the destination
Unspoken words and gentle touch
replace the conversation

Plans are made for dinner before returning to the bar
Leave each other with a long parting kiss
Go home, sleep deep and well that night
Drifting painlessly in dreamless bliss

Awake with a long forgotten pleasant discomfort
The smell of remembrance lingers on my skin
Coffee and cigarettes for breakfast again
Dread creeps out from somewhere deep within

I drink, I smoke, I leave that place
Dust hides the destination
Unspoken words and forbidden touch
replace that conversation

The phone rings, dinner is canceled
People at the hospital request a hasty return
His only son has taken a turn for the worse
Flames of the hell to come begin to burn

Struggling with complexity, dare I make a call?
Decide I'm acting crazy and go on with my day
I call him later the next and hear it in his voice
Oh baby, I'm so sorry, is all that I can say

He drinks, he smokes, he leaves that place
Dust fails to hide his destination
Unspoken words and a final touch
replace their conversation.


I now speed down that gravel road
To the smoky sanctuary where he will be drawn
Choke back tears and enter the musty darkness
A few immediately know that Cale is gone

Two shots of Cuervo and the news repeated thrice
I step back out into the daylight and the clean air
As he climbs out of his car and walks toward me
I am staggered by just how much I care

He looks so small, so sad, so tired, no escape tonight
He has to go home alone this time, this whole thing isn't right

The biting blur of those next few days ages him
Family and old friends begin to arrive
The arrangements must be made, so much to do
From a distance, I wonder if he will survive

I see him first, standing near where his son lays
Our eyes meet, hug, and head out back for a beer
This stuffy formal visitation is taking forever
So, where do we go when we get out of here?

We'll drink, we'll smoke, we'll leave that place
Dust will hide the destination
Unspoken words and gentle touch
will replace this conversation

The crowd thins out, he introduces me those who are left
I tell him I'm planning on staying in town
Friends of this father and his son are gathering at the local bar
Want to stop there for some Cuervo and some Crown?

A celebration of life unfolds amongst these people
Sitting on a corner stool he takes in the surreal scene
Tonight they laugh through tears and drink with him
Tomorrow as mourners they all will reconvene

Fitful sleep is all he gets, tomorrow will be the worst of days
Come and lay here beside me tonight, tomorrow the bagpipe plays

He delays his shower, wanting to delay what this day will bring
Almost twenty years have passed since she too was taken
Now two of the true loves of his life are together again
His fragile faith in ever truly living again is now forsaken

They were snatched from him when they were both too young
Making him older and putting an end to his American Dream
The dark cloak of pain and reality heavily falls over him
My throat closes tight, fighting back the urge to scream

We drink, we smoke, we leave that place
Dust hides the destination
Unspoken words and gentle touch,
replace the conversation

We meet back at the luncheon and sit for a while
He wants leave so I drive him back to his car
There will be no getting close to someone again
We'll see occasionally, mostly at the bar

Ease and comfort is replaced with polite small talk
Never once asking what might have been
Not wanting to look into each others eyes
until the effects of Crown and Cuervo kick back in

We drink, we smoke, we leave that place
Dust hides the destination
Unspoken words and gentle touch,
replace the conversation