end of an expedition or "Speak to me"

vestiges of us strewn
about the room-

that stupid hemp necklace

the sweater you said smelled of me
that i let you keep-
only to get it back with a hole in the armpit

we were once lewis and clarkE-
traipsing along coasts and
leaving loving prints littering
the wetsand

where we met

but
alas
avast!

the ocean leaves holes
in the hearts of wives


it's safer that way.
we can't be the air we breathe