Leaving Rhode Island: Paradise

From here Rhode Island

Looks like paradise

Funny, huh?

You can’t see the corners

You can’t see the bad spots

You can’t see the things people have

To complain about

You get to the roof of the parking garage at the mall

And you look out onto this city, this state

And it’s a weekend night

And there’s just enough of everything

People

Lights

Activity

Movement

A hand slips into your hand

You look next to you

Where a lovely man stands

A lovely man who is willingly given up

His entire life

So you can come back here

He asked you ‘Why’

You said ‘I wish I could tell you why’

I don’t know

I have…unfinished business here

With this place

This state

I have things left to do

You can dance around the forest all you want

But at some point

You’re going to get pulled back

To your roots

And here I am

Pulled back

‘Thank you,’ you say

To the very, very lovely man

‘Thank you for coming with me’

He looks at you

Leans into you

Puts his lips right up against your ear

And says—

‘There isn’t anywhere I wouldn’t go’

Rhode Island, I’ll admit it

Sometimes you look like paradise

But the man next to me?

He’s Heaven

No question about it