The Weight of Thought

This is today's impromptu poem. I rarely share them. Today's waited to reveal itself until I took a walk. I composed it in my head while walking and then typed it here immediately on my return. Inspired by the incomparable Buckethead. Specifically, his instrumental titled "How Much Does a Thought Weigh" that happened to be included in a random playlist. 

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"The Weight of Thought"

by Geoffrey Allison. Copyright 2021.

this is time alone
in an open-air bar
a chance encounter
a shared drink
this is leaving together
under the eye of the bartender
that shared walk on the beach
finding in the passing sands
seashells and shared interests

this is the tide coming in
cold water touching ankles
this is the rising water
a warning

this is the smile
in the coffee shop off Ku'Damm
the awkward introduction
composed of two languages
the walk under steel skies
the agreement to meet again

this is the question asked
on the razor's edge
along the narrows at the
strait of Öresund
this is fifteen minutes witnessing mannerisms
and remembering every detail now five years on

this is the shared cab with coworkers
the agreement of who's to sit on whose lap 
this is your joint decision, quickly made
the electricity coursing through the cabin --
yet shocking nobody

this is the map you keep folded
all the locations camouflaged
restrained in silence

this is the "No's" to the knowing
of two random persons intersecting
this is the constant reaffirmation
of commitment, 
this is guilt like ghosts haunting
not in the sex never sought
but memory whispering all the romantic
love ley-line crossings left untraced

​​​this is the weight of thought

final May 31, 2021

---

this is time alone
in an open-air bar
a chance encounter
a shared drink
this is leaving together
under the eye of the bartender
the shared walk on the beach
finding in the passing sands
seashells and shared interests

this is the tide coming in
cold water touching ankles
this is the rising water
a warning

this is the smile
in the coffee shop off Ku'Damm
the awkward introduction
composed of two languages
the walk under steel skies
and the agreement to meet again

this is the question asked
on the razor's edge
at the narrows of the
strait of Öresund
this is fifteen minutes of witnessing mannerisms
and remembering each in detail a half-decade later still

this is the shared cab with coworkers
the agreement of who's to sit on whose lap 
this is your joint decision, quickly made
the electricity coursing through the cabin --
yet shocking nobody

this is the map you keep folded
all the locations camouflaged
restrained in silence

this is the "No's" to the knowing
of two random persons intersecting
this is the constant reaffirmation
of commitment, 
this is guilt like ghost haunting
not in the sex never sought
memory whispering all the deeper romantic
love ley-line crossings left untraced
​this is the weight of thought

first composition, typed & shared May 28, 2021