We returned home You with a raincoat Me a permanent cough Put less and less clothes on Could not decide whether or not We wanted to walk To the ends of the Earth Or if perhaps we'd rather rest In our own backyard dirt Our neighbour gave us cherries after Every full moon I sat and sucked the pits as you Sharpened your harpoon You sang a sudden Soliloquy of sorrow "Must I arm myself With this weapon again tomorrow?" The weather station blared that another war Would be coming Some scattered clouds A little sun and then it would be storming I tried to plan our escape While you went off to fight Gathered what I could Some tenderness, some twine I set to task, quilting a patchwork of memories A swath of cloth, a fold untold a riot of reverie It came in bursts I kept what worked At least I was occupied You fought the fight Then every night I held you while you cried While you cried