ate a stem and a cap
sank deep into the couch
knew there was time
still sat with the dark
looking for what
waiting for lines
to shimmer
I think
last time
was outside
light rain
and a summer octopus
waiting on a woman
always late
and too young for me
she passed me a micro dose
days before
in the two weeks
we were perfect
for each other
her father was dying of cancer
my good friend was dying of cancer
within our individual sadness
we both disappeared
ghosts vibrating deep
lost to our history
Jason Baldinger is a poet from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was recently a Writer in Residence at Osage Arts Community, and is founder and co-director of The Bridge Series. He has multiple books available including the soon to be released The Better Angels of our Nature (Kung Fu Treachery) and the split books The Ugly Side of the Lake with John Dorsey (Night Ballet Press) as well as Little Fires Hiding with James Benger (Kung Fu Treachery Press). His work has been published widely in print journals and online. You can listen to him read his work on Bandcamp on lps by the bands Theremonster and The Gotobeds.