Yesterday’s Enterprise

Yesterday’s Enterprise

I thought it was you, yesterday’s Angel;

who had dared break love’s enterprise

to me, those few long yesteryears ago

when I was so much more the man.

Yesterday, driving past a shop too fast

to be sure, you’re standing by the door,

laughing in tight blue; I kind of knew

the punch-line to whatever shared joke

it was might have then just tickled you.

Corner shop, remember it? Cheap rate

bottled booze, under the counter fags,

bread and cake past its sell by dates,

2 for 1 own brand dishrags, ratty bags

to tote home the odd flavoured crisps

you try once at your own risk. We split.

Slow, slow and quickstep your sidekick’s

parking - see that’s me in front, pulling

up heart-break handbrakes, grasping

for shock absorbers, inertial dampers,

both awe-frozen by whatever chance

took us together for a second glance.

But, after the fact, never looking back.

I thought it was you (was it really?), No.

I can’t be sure, time rolls on and we go

until we’re both down past anyway, gone;

your spirit left while mine stayed so long.

I thought it was you (does it matter?) No.

An impression in blue planted will grow

roots, dreams skin tight about your chest

ample swell my thoughts to do the rest.

Thought it was you (and it could’ve been),

the way my stomach flip-flopped inside

my heart trying to make itself be seen,

as love boxed twelve rounds with pride

and won, left me longing for some prize

from the Angel of yesterday’s enterprise.