Both Sides (Later)

Bridget Phillips

Staff Writer

Both Sides (Later)

Inspired by the music of Joni Mitchell

It’s love's illusions I recall, I really don’t know love at all. The prophet on the radio is Mitchell. Same words my mother mused in her 1985 Toronto U dorm room. I pray they still have meaning—

That the endless 2-feet carseat space between us is illusion.

I wish I had a river I could skate away on.

I wonder if mother will let bygone be bygone.

I wonder if the river I cross is the same one she did years ago; when nana’s ice broke

the telephone line and words froze in her mouth.

I wonder if the guitar line is a timeline. I wonder

if mom’s tears came same time as mine when Joni sang about the man who climbed the mountain

and called out her name.

When she ran

Down

Down

Down to the mermaid cafe.