Now I Say Things Like Tomorrow Poem by Ben Partenay

these streets are clogged with ball and chain,
faces walk with owl eyes, carry
bags of last kisses and goodbyes on telephones,
“tonight” they say, “love will break these chains”

so they go in doors, out doors, into
new beds with messy sheets
searching for little stars on ceilings
and a summer goodnight kiss

they search, I search, all search
for little promises spread on scrabble boards
for weaknesses in brick walls
for love which none have ever known

now I say things like “tomorrow”, I watch
suns rise, suns sink, children walk
down alleys in the dusk, come back
saints and devils, thieves and bible bangers

I have found nothingness
no breaks in brick walls
no prophecies in scrambled letters

father god, this earth is your ball
you walk in circles round the sun
“love” you say, “I have never quite
figured it out”