Gotye's "Somebody That I Used to Know" is a song we've all heard a million and one times this summer until we puke from overexposure. When this song first came out, I was still digesting a break-up that had occurred in my life and, every time it came on, I thought, "I know this is just a song, but it feels really authentic somehow."
...and then I sang my face off to that one part (like the rest of you goons).
Anyway, try as I have to avoid contact with this former partner of mine, today was the day that I unexpectedly ran into him as I was walking through a tunnel to the Blue Line. Yes, a tunnel. What a great place to run into someone you might like to avoid. |
| There are lots of things I could say about how I feel and how I felt when this happened and I realize my experience isn't unique. However, to avoid actually vomiting, passing out, or doing something otherwise destructive during the time it took me to ride from Jackson to my stop at California, I wrote it all down as a way to document this run-in and learn from my reaction. Now, I will share this with you. I tried to write it in the format of a poem(ish) for art-making sake. Thanks for reading. |
Used to be My Life
When you unexpectedly run into someone you once loved,
It's like getting sidelined
By a herd of running bulls.
Try as you might to keep your calm,
Inevitably your heart races
And you become overly excitable.
In my case, this happened in the subway.
I was having a perfectly pleasant afternoon
Returning home.
When I saw him.
I quickly weighed my options
With the bat of an eyelash.
He sees me. Do I stop?
Yes.
Oh, shit. No.
NO!
But I do.
When you try to make small talk with someone you once loved
It sounds something like
An underwater Speak and Spell
In your own ears.
Rubbish.
Utter garble
Floating up and out of your throat.
All of this nonsense
Because you,
The sad sack
In this particular situation
Are concurrently being hit with a wave.
No,
A FUCKING tsunami of emotion and think:
Wow, he got a little fat.
but his eyes are still the same.
You think:
About the texture of his hair,
The smell of that cologne
you really liked.
The way he made you smile
even when you were
PISSED.
And now, he's here
A year and some later.
And you can't
Stand this any longer cause
You've begun to shake.
So, you say
"Hey, I'm gonna go."
And with a wave, you do
Thinking
This used to be my life.
HE used to be my life.
