manuel of la brea

01

firefly

we were dancing in the dark
after wandering the forest of scars.
both crying, bewildered by the past,
and the only thing we needed was trust.
but fear crept into our minds—
would it vanish as our hands intertwine?

all the shadows of memories flashed
before our eyes could even blink twice.
we don’t need to be okay and hide it all.
we don’t need to pretend that nothing’s wrong.
hurting inside; we don’t want to lose “us.”
dancing in the dark, we weren’t in a rush.

it followed us in the narrow streets.
the nightmare woke us up under the sheets.
we were hungry, angry, lonely, and tired
yet you never left; your tears you didn’t hide.
we lift it on our shoulders, fragile and weak
like black coffins, it’s heavy, no crows speak.

and i never heard your footsteps walk away.
we continued to dance; we never went astray
you said, “it’ll be us if push comes to shove,”
“whatever this is, it’s not the opposite of love.”
i believed you then for dousing the glim.
our love’s a firefly; it twinkles after the dim