John Parish The Last Thing I Heard Her Say
I was in the water when you grabbed me from behind
your arms around my neck
it was more than fifteen years
since you or me left
was I supposed to be surprised
you kissed me
wiping chlorine from my eyes
did you leave me
or I leave you
voted third most beautiful
eleven hundred in our school
I had you number one
& how I remember you turning up
to trade me for a younger flame
barely sixteen years to my name
did you leave me
or I leave you
did I leave you or you leave me
she said “I scored two out of three
& was the third revenge for you”
her smile was cold the water blue
we clung onto the side a while
afraid of letting go
“is it you or my youth I’ve been missing so bad”
she turned & swam away
was the last thing I heard her say
