The Game

I had a dream about you and I
We were playing a game.

I was walking ahead of you

on a Main Street on a long hill

that always curved to the left,
so one could not see around the corners.
The goal was for us to meet.

Like most dreams

this one was full of illogical rules

and they were followed to illogical ends.
I could stop, or turn into a store
on the left side of the street,

but I could not turn back.
You were behind me somewhere,
but I couldn't see very far 
because of the curve in the street,
and I didn't know if we’d agreed

that you could stop

or turn around.

This made me anxious.

All I could do was continue living my life

and hope you were still playing the game.

Of course when I woke up I realized 
this wasn't much of a life,

nor much of a game.

I rolled out of bed for a cigarette
and sat on the balcony.
I picked up my journal
to write something down
and realized I could have left notes 
for you to find on the street.
I could have told you where to meet me,
and slept there without fear of missing you walk by.
I could have encouraged you to find me,
told you I loved you, 
and if it was too long,
I could have told you 
I quit.

Of course, I'd never know 
if you'd read what I'd written.
But it's tough to play

with someone you've hurt.