Alibi

Can you tell me where you were

On the night of January 6th

Between 5 and 11 p.m.?

Sure, see that morning

I woke up in a strange bed

There were dark brown sheets and

A rustic dresser, the top covered

Completely

With figurines and stuffed animals, two candles

A pocket knife, and a handful

Of colored pencils

Sir, I asked about the evening

Can you tell me where

You were then?

Take it easy, I'm getting to that

See, I didn't know where I was at first

In the fog of those first moments

Post-sleep

I deduced my location by

The painting hung on the far wall

The care by which each drop and stroke

Sunk into the canvas, stretched across

The imagination

By the half-mashed tubes of acrylic

The glass that sprouted brush-handles

From the top of it

And grayish-pink water that rose

Halfway to the rim

I could have just looked over

Any moment, but I hesitated on the chance

I was still dreaming

And the sight of her might wake me

Listen sir, this is important

I need to know what you were doing

Between 5 and 11

On the day in question?

Well, I started to stand

When I felt her hand

Brush against my hip

And she whispered, still sleeping

Don't go yet, I'll go with you

In a minute

My heart stopped, my throat caught

And I froze, half sitting up

Half held in place

By her fingertips

Still stained with paint, still as soft

As I remembered them

I stayed there, motionless, another fifteen minutes

Trying to draw a picture in my head

Of what had happened, and how much had been

Dreamt

And she kissed my cheek

And one eye opened, and her lips parted into a smile

As beautiful as I had ever seen

She asked me if I

Remembered

I wondered if I

Could ever forget

Sir, one last time

Where were you during the times

I've mentioned?

Well, by then the hour hand

Was approaching six

I couldn't imagine having slept

So late, til I realized we had been

Up til eight, plotting a revolution

Painting and drinking red wine

And laughing, catching up on old times

And wondering when they might have

Vanished

I cooked breakfast for dinner

She put on some music

I poured us each a glass

Of rum and coke, to ease the hold

Of our hangover

She danced like I couldn't see it

Or like I could, and she wanted to send

A message

We talked about what city might be next

What future we might have

What fortune had found us

In that moment

We washed the dishes, around eight

She splashed me with the water

From the faucet

I told her she was the most beautiful woman

I had ever met, she said well,

You haven't met them all yet

And blushed, and I knew right then

It wouldn't matter if I had, the truth was

As it had always been

She kissed me on the lips

Told me I tasted like rum and

Bacon, and laughed, and by then

It was almost ten, I brushed my teeth

We turned on the TV

And completely ignored it

And if you want to know anymore, sir

You're going to have to take me to court

Cause the rest is none of

Your business

But to answer your question

On January 6th, from 5 to 11

I was with her, and I'm fairly sure

We weren't even on

This planet

But somewhere between here

And heaven, and if you don't mind

I'd like to go back

Thank you for your cooperation

In this matter, if I have any further questions

I'll be sure to call your number

So we can chat

Fat chance officer, where we're going

I'm sure

There's no reception.