For Maggie

To my best friend, whose feet may be gone from this place, but her steps are still on the sidewalk.

Coventry Darling

It's snowing on Coventry.
Each flake threads its way through bricks,
dressing the street in her hippy wedding gown.
When the snow piles up,
I remember you.
Lecturing me in my holy rain boots,
lined with nothing,
telling me I'm going to freeze if I don't get something better on my feet.
But everything's frozen lately.
My feet,
the street,
this city.
Still in the anticipation of you.
Still; waiting for Coventry's favorite bride.

You married the mountains,
but your pulse is beneath this concrete.
I feel it pumping,
so hard sometimes its tough to stand still on the sidewalk.
The street remembers us well.
Those nights we looked how we feel.
Those nights we gave up on getting home early.
Where we let the Cave's candles burn time,
where we let B Side see us
spinning in our highest heels.
Those nights.
I know its not easy coming home,
leaving blood behind,
but know the signs lose their saturation
and street musicians lose their turn,
Coventry darling,
until you do.