And then it happens 
poof not like lightning 
or even like thunder 
more like summer’s invisible 
spiders webs hanging quietly 
there in front of 
you walking thoroughly unaware 
until you get tangled 
or like a feather 
or like a leaf
floating down from nowhere 
and then suddenly being 
somewhere delicately upon you 
This thing that happens 
just like that always 
like that and never 
ever any other way 
is the one thing 
that you were always
certain wouldn’t ever happen 
and yet just did

The world has lost 
its innocence having once 
been there unaware there
Funny how that is 
things there are only 
ever noticed once they’re 
gone but never seen 
once they are there 
It’s almost like life 
is only recognizable in 
the rear view mirrors 
and in our hindsight 
long past due and 
much too late to 
do anything to keep 
and now must lose 

Just as the sun 
caught your naked shoulder 
you turned the same 
way that you turned 
in Venice as the 
shuttle boat turned the 
corner of the canal 
and the sun caught 
your naked shoulder making 
it glow as if
cast from gold itself 
but now as you 
sleep still beside me 
I can still see 
you and standing there 
a few feet ahead 
of me having always 
and remain my leader 
I’ll follow you anywhere