The Tale of the Skeleton Key

They drove up the road together
And then split apart at the top.
One got out of the car and walked

Restlessly up and down the road,
Along gravel margins, between
The raw meadows and scattered pines.

The other drove up to the pond,
Through the high country of aspens,
And only got out at the shore

To watch the small waves move like flocks
Of dark birds on blue reflections.
Neither one could see the other

Or what the other could see,
And both were afraid of missing
A glimpse of the skeleton key.

One of them was sure it was you
In the dry grass, pines, and long views,
While the other thought, No, it’s me.