Between us

Plant an apple tree in the
Distance between us
Encircle us in chalk
So we can finally be one happy house
Instead of the two sides of this goddamned road block

Don’t shovel the snow between us please,
Lay in it and make snow angels with me

In the barren land between us
Let us divide it in half for our kitchen gardens
So you’ll always be welcome to borrow some tomatoes,
And I can watch how red your strawberries get to know how your day goes

Don’t fence your house away to separate from the in between please,
Share secrets with me, like the rock in front of your door hides your house keys

Don’t ignore this space between,
Come out in it sometimes to enjoy your tea
Either way, I’ll wait by the kitchen window
Hoping to catch a glimpse, hoping to find
That you’ll be perched on your couch
Ready to end the night

In the deserted road between our houses
Use it to park the bikes that don’t fit in your garage
So when I hear the engine groan, I’ll know you’re out to roam
You’re out on a joyride and knowing that is the greatest pleasure I’ll ever find

In the freshly manicured lawn between us, call over your closest friends
String some lights, maybe a bonfire
And I’ll lay in the dark grass behind and overhear
That you’re all happy and well
And that the night is never dark enough to not call over friends

I know that’s asking a lot of you
But also know I’d readily let you road roll my house down if you asked
I’d move to another planet and wave my wand to obliviate memories of me
If that’s what you’d wish,
Consider me vanished

But the silence in this vacuum between us
will drive me insane
And that elephant will soon outgrow my house
so long as this silence thickens
Please ring the doorbell once in a while,
Take the elephant out on a walk
and maybe after,

you’ll come inside for a coffee and we’ll talk