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That’s How It Is for Charlie
Because a lost love never really disappears
Charlie keeps his heart tucked well out of sight
Not on his sleeve, the way he used to
Back when he used to feel things
And think things
And write songs in longhand about pretty women
He doesn’t read much anymore — his books are mostly in boxes now, collecting dust, along with silverfish.
Except for The Catcher in the Rye
Because Charlie likes Holden
“Don’t ever tell anybody anything,” Holden always said
“If you do, you start missing everybody.”
Sage words, Charlie thinks.
You start sharing your thoughts and your bad poetry and your bed with someone, and sure as shit, it’s going to get complicated.
Because you’ll start caring
And maybe they will, too, but perhaps not as much
And when they leave
The only thing you have to show for it is a dark space where the air doesn’t move.
At least that’s how it is for Charlie
But sometimes
A lyric gets in
And a bell rings
And when that happens
Charlie will reach for The Catcher
And stay still in that space
Long enough to set himself straight again
