Nulla Vestigia Retrorsum
Every flat and apartment
You ever rented;
Particularly
the third story loft
In Rosedale
Where Mad Ernie
Tried to throw me
Out the window.
But we had fun
That summer
Walking the Rosedale Valley Bridge
Discussing classical music—
You talked, I listened…
And we met Joni Mitchell
And I was enthralled—
For a second,
Then came back to earth
When I realized
It wouldn’t work
But you insisted,
So we sat through every set.
In the Riverboat
We saw Gordon Lightfoot,
Listened to Jazz all night
In the village
Til the subway closed
And I rode the bus home alone.
I just want to thank you
For those mad times;
We were improbable
And I think you knew it.
What I miss now
Is sipping coffee
In your old beater car
Trying to discover
Who the hell we were…
Well, now I know
And it’s gotten me nowhere
So I’d rather go back
To that familiar state of wonder
Sitting in a car
With no heater,
Uncertain of where to go,
But still willing to go there.