Poem: Always

'Can I hug you one last time?'

you say

as I role my eyes, pretending I'm fine.

'I'm OK'.

You hug me anyway,

in the same way as always with my face hidden,

and your best side showing off to the world.

And in some ways

I'll miss that.

In some ways? Always.

'Can I hug you one last time?'

you say

as we try to ignore the pittance of things to pack.

'I'm OK'.

You hug me anyway

and I mumble how we need to hurry up

and you say nothing because you never listen.

And in some ways

I'll miss that.

In some ways? Always.

'Can I hug you one last time?'

you say

as we drink too much wine on the roof of this place.

'I'm OK'.

You hug me anyway

and say how you love my face and my hair and my smile,

but I'm not as good as you by miles.

And in some ways

I'll miss that.

In some ways? Always.

'Can I hug you one last time?'

I say

as the car pulls up and you grin my way.

'Always',

you say.

An even though you're arrogant 

and vain and drunk and insane

in some ways

I'll miss that.

In all ways. Always.