If this was a quantitative analysis

I’d tell you

It’s been 3 months since I’ve had a drink

And I’m 25 pounds lighter

I count the new moons religiously —

we’re at 6 now

I met Patti Smith a couple weeks ago,

she signed a book to you

I’ve only collapsed once

I haven’t been counting the tears

The sun sets around 8 this time of year

Which means if I leave now, I could probably catch it over our river

I’d smoke a cigarette on 295

And another one on 29

Or at least that’s what I would’ve done before I quit smoking, again

Anyway, I was never good at math

but I think we still net zero

You once wrote a poem

about driving an arrowhead

through your Achilles

Years later, I got that arrow tattooed —

your first initial permanently piercing the softest flesh

I didn’t know then you’d be with me forever even though you didn’t want to be

I could cover it up

Dip another needle in more ink

But you will always be my only weakness

And I don’t want to fight this war