Thule is where I left her, and I never went back.
In the streets of indefinite time
At a pavement cafe, she still waits, maybe,
Reading the headlines, ESCAPE FROM THULE!
Not believing, caught in a mood of disbelief.
Jessica was, you know, one of those things;
You drift in and stay forever. In Thule they build
Around you, divert traffic. The people stand
Like stone and the city flows around.
Successive waves bring up
Your baby photos
Your car
Your umbilical cord.
I went back to Thule and everything had changed
Except the place. I came in through different streets
To a different idea. Every street leads
To a different idea. Everything feels the same.
Jessica sends her love and says she'll see you.
Someday she'll see you.
In a straw-colored light like lymph or eggshells
You can run to her. You can run to her.
You can visit the places where
You used to go together.
This evening I came home by the same path
Walking backwards so my feet fit this morning's footprints.
In the kitchen I filled a bowl with cereal
Mouthful by mouthful
Dribbled orange juice into a glass
Spat out the sun
Unmade the day in careful stages.
I lied about leaving.
I never left.
Born and bred in Thule, and I am at home here - we don't
Take easily to new soil.
Jessica's different. She's from out of town
And someday she'll go back.
Let me practise now.
Thule's the name.
Hello.