You are riding the bus again



burrowing into the blackness of Interstate 80,



the sole passenger







with an overhead light on.



And I am with you.



I’m the interminable fields you can’t see,







the little lights off in the distance



(in one of those rooms we are



living) and I am the rain







and the others all



around you, and the loneliness you love,



and the universe that loves you specifically, maybe,







and the catastrophic dawn,



the nicotine crawling on your skin—



and when you begin







to cough I won’t cover my face,



and if you vomit this time I will hold you:



everything’s going to be fine







I will whisper.



It won’t always be like this.



I am going to buy you a sandwich.





