In March - Henry Jamison

We met at the gas station and wandered round all day

Then we went home and

Sat sad-eyed in the darkness and played GTA

And the people all were simulacrum

Just waiting to be slain

So I took the Black Hawk helicopter

And watched the sun set over San Andreas

If I’d only known

When I was seventeen

Oh what that gesture seems to mean

That the world is full

Of shimmering fish, and bulls and honey and rain

In marched your father with his golden arm

With his shirt undone

And his heart undone he said «son»

And you moved your thumb

Got out of the car and unloaded your gun

Oh Tom, you were a lonely one

In the basement room

That your dad blew through

Oh Tom

Your mother brought us Coca-Cola

And so we paused the game

Coca-Cola

Your character was in mid-air

With an expression close to shame

And then he fell upon a woman who

Appeared to mouth your name

And you got in the nearest car

And lit right out for the equator

If we’d only known when we were seventeen

Oh what that gesture seems to mean

That the world is full

Of shimming fish and bulls and honey and rain

In marched your father with his golden arm

With his shirt undone

And his heart undone he said «son»

And you moved your thumb

Got out of the car and unloaded your gun

Oh Tom, you were a lonely one

In the basement room

That your dad blew through

Oh Tom

In March the crocuses were all in bloom

And we got off of the couch

And walked out of your room

I said «Tom, you see it’s true

You love the world and the world

She loves you.»