we ditched that one day
the last warm day of September
but no one marked us absent
or gave out demerits.
they let us have that holiday
before they packed me away
to St. Vincent’s, Floor 6, Room 21.
we rode our bikes to the dam
swung our feet a hundred feet
over the frothing water
ate doughnuts pilfered
from your mother’s pantry.
I leaned on your shoulder
and you swore to visit every day
bring me books to read.
if I can’t lift them? I asked.
I’ll read to you, you said.
when you finally did come
I’d been here two weeks
in a white plastic gown
always cold.
you didn’t apologize for not
being there
and I didn’t scold you
because I knew exactly why.
you brought Huckleberry Finn
Alice in Wonderland and
The Wizard of Oz.
all about going somewhere far away
and then coming home.