good-bye, in not so many words.

I was shoeless
feet sinking into the soft earth
on the side of the highway

the weeds and old McDonald's cups
long burnt strips of rubber
and browned cigarette butts

illuminated and faintly glowing
in the flickering yellow headlights
the car hummed as the fan kicked on

the song that had been playing
that had just began when THIS whole thing started
finally came to an end

with a few twangy guitar rifts
and the final lonely lyrics
that were the only words

the only words between us
as we clutched fists
and glared into each other's eyes

I opened my mouth
to shout out all of the recriminations
you truly deserved (you know you did)

but a car sped past
a blur of shouted insinuations
squealing tires

drowning out my words
even those final three
spoken with an aching shame and honesty

then you smiled
that one dimple in your left cheek
flicked out at me

I think I had to smile in return
that one dimple in my right check
winked back at you

we dropped our grip
stepped apart
and I haven't really seen you since.