A photograph like
A mirror reflects
You in my
Eyes do you
See yourself in
My twinkling or
Perhaps in the
Smile that breaches
The levees of
Propriety and chagrin
Do you not
Miss your shadow
As it follows
Me now instead
Or do you
Miss your laughter
As it rings
In my heart
This you’ve become
Less for you
More to me
The one thing
That sickens me
About all this
Is your fear
Being translated into
Cowardice as though
Retreating is worse
Than running but
Taking two steps
Back away from
Me causes me
To stop to
Oh I don’t
Know wait or
Maybe follow or
Even maybe let
You go away
But when you
Run you know
That I can’t
Because it’s impossible
To run while
Holding my heart
Out in front
Lovers are like
Newspapers crisp a
Bit fragile and
Temporary read once
But you Muenster
You’re like my
Favorite book highlighted
And dog eared
Used and read
At the ready
When comfort is
Needed or like
The oak under
Which I nap
On lazy summer
Afternoons your canopy
Outstretched protecting me
And after the
Chat the portrait
Arrived and like
A child watching
Fireworks my heart
Sped up and
My mouth uttered
Ooos and ahhhs
And I shook
With glee like
A dog in
From the rain
And there you
Stood next to
Me beer in
Hand the smoke
From the barbecue
Rising between us
Like steam locomotives
At the Bahnhof
Caught staring you
Leaned through the
Smoke kissing me
Causing me to
Ignore our dinner
Now charred and
Brittle burned chicken
HARLAN DIDRICKSON 