There was some open space between what he knew and what he tried to believe, but nothing could be done about it, and if you can’t fix it you’ve got to stand it.

-Brokeback Mountain by Annie Proulx

There was supposed to be
open space for everything
to be as they were

Some way for things to be
what he knew and
always held dear

He tried to believe
that there was a way
it could be done

But he was caught between
the memories of something wonderful
and the nothing they were offering

About this time
old words came back to him
from a story he once read

And rang in his head
like a bell ringing over and over
if you can’t fix it you’ve got to stand it