It’s like caring
Fingers dancing across
My ribs making
Me giggle like
A bouquet of
Spring daisies found
On my doorstep
Sometimes it’s like
A horse at
Full gallop sweating
And sometimes it’s
Like that first
Late November snowfall
As we gather
For the holidays
Sometimes it’s like
That yet sometimes
It’s the dripping
Eaves after rain
Or a warm
Towel after shower
Or sometimes it’s
Just your voice
Whispering in my
Ear those three
Delicately simple words
That you say
Only to me
Like a ghostly
Ship far out
To sea you
Appeared to me
Approaching and finally
Mooring just off
My coast your
Hands moved towards
Me like a jetty
Filled with conquistadors
As you lowered
Your main sail
And laid it
On the floor
Next to bed
Setting anchor you
Decided to stay
And explore me
Your new world
And while perusing
The bookstore of
My life I
Happened upon an
All-too familiar story
Of sweetness newly
Discovered in a
Landscape of bleakness
Of quenching rains
Of kindness after
Parching droughted meanness
Of long-awaited holiday
Gatherings after months
Of dark loneliness
It’s a story
Where a crooked
Smile sets to
Light a string
Of otherwise dim
Bulbs you reminded
Me of this
And it’s you
That has become
Yet once again
My favorite story
Once again like
Being tickled by
A funny anecdote
Your messages made
Me giggle like
Buttery chins seen
By early summer
Dandelions and paratroopers
Spinning after being
Blown from spent
Past cat tails
Your words returned
The glee of
My childhood memories
And we met
And made dreams
Buildings and moats
With shovels and
Pails like small
Handed children digging
Into beach sand
Long before growing
Up and sitting
Across from me
As you are
Hands now trace
The love lines
Of each other
HARLAN DIDRICKSON 