ET hobbles up the space ship’s silver

ramp and waves to the boy who found him,

standing now in moonlight, face glazed

with tears. I ask Patrick if he knows why

the boy in the movie is sad, and he says

Sure, and then Actually, no.

 

He’s losing his friend forever, I explain.

It makes him sad enough to cry.

To cry? echoes Patrick, and he 

backs up the video,

watches that scene again, hits rewind

and watches once more, thumb jabbing

the slender remote, sound muted

in the dark room where he studies

the world of love for clues.

​

​

2 Bridges Review, Volume 2