Debris

Whenever I pass
that dying old mall
I think of our dinners
at the Chinese buffet
and how you would criticize
everything I ate:
"Too many noodles,
not enough broccoli"
and "Cheese wontons
are an abomination,"
ad infinitum

and I see many

of the godawful movies

you dragged me to,

now available

in the five dollar DVD bins

at various stores.

You don't know how many

times I was tempted,

when I picked you up

for our dates, to say

"Are you ready?  

Put on your frown

and let's be off!"

I remember the

wooden yo-yo

and plastic army men

I had as a kid,

the comic books

with covers coming off,

the Hot Wheels

and Matchbox Cars

with their peeling paint

and can't help

but think of you

as just another memory

in the junk drawer

of my life. - Jeff Barnes