you would (but won't) persuade me that I did not

I knew your tender complicity
and your knotty genius
your sweet hunger
and your dark reflection

you swear (I know) that I did not
and bribe the world to bear false witness
you don disguise (revise) and theorize
take all that I had (and wanted) and replace it with doubt
destroy all that I might (and should) have had (and been)
and replace it with surreal certainty

yet still I know I knew you

you are (no doubt) appalled by my arrogance
protest till the sun is snuffed
and the darkness rules
deny my logic (for I have none)
deem me mad (for I am)
paint me with the beige of yesterday
and look away

but however you may strive (and struggle) to forget
whatever distances (and stars) you may cross in your flight
whichever transformations you may invoke
I am here
remembering you
keeping you alive
and knowing you know I knew you