for keith
i remember we scoured garages
streets & acres of woods
for a piece of the good life
always overestimating
the going price for steel
though we never drove Hummers
(though we knew a few)
we had enough for beer
and sometimes we could make
the drive to see your girlfriend
an hour away
she was an artist always searching
for a face standing out in a crowd
she wanted to do a portrait of me
to bring out the truth as if
my soul were singing.
a mind like the fluttering heart
of a dying sparrow
i have no truth
and in its last breath
the bird has more song
i told her
looking back my friend
i would ask for a simple design.
i would ask to be painted beautiful
if only for a little while.
***
Terrance Huiskens
Terrance Huiskens is a 24-year-old student from Bay City, MI.
