And then there
A voice a
Wave a howdy-doo
Trailed by laughter
Like a long
Lit fuse which
Crackled and popped
And exploded causing
People to turn
You stood there
Chagrin rolling in
Like nighttime tides
The crimson bleached
Your face as
Hands cupped mouth
The immediacy of
Embarrassment is the
One single thing
That drew me
Like a moth
To your flame
Whispers in darkness
Hellos in absentia
Photographs of smiles
And remembered tears
Make up me
Alone not lonely
I’m like a
Tree on savanna
Offering just me
To those that
Need me now
Shade or habitat
Your use of
Me defines me
And my life
And now we
Have quieted like
A kettle taken
Off the boil
Still warm capable
Of steeping but
Silent and simmering
Wondering here what
If anything our
Purpose is was
Except to whistle
Be noticed and
Now sit still
Warm to touch
Waiting waiting waiting
For our chance
To be something
Besides what we
Appear to be
And then from
Across the world
Perhaps the room
Space between us
Came a hello
Formed as wink
Followed by questions
And a tinge
Of laughter which
Tickled all me
We teased and
Joked and admitted
Our subtle attraction
And moved around
Each other like
The sun and
The moon aware
Of the gravity
Of us in
Space seeing each
Other yet never
Really really ever
Able to touch
Life is strange
Like a winding
Path through glen
Or a forest
It leads you
To many places
Yet to discover
Never fear life
But embrace it
There is no
Going back to
The beginning only
Forward or now
HARLAN DIDRICKSON 