When
At times a sadness
colors my eyes
settles like a thin veil.
It is not so much for now
but for times lost.
It is too easy to forget
that this moment is only once;
this encounter
this leaving
this kiss
this glance
a night’s dream
a day’s drama.
Only once,
your face as it moves from smiles
to tears;
your body as it wraps mine
and moves away;
your soul as it binds the universe
and sinks to a singular point.
Only once,
this ache of not knowing;
this wonder in a child’s eyes
this despair in some insane hurt
this touch that lingers.
My past is full of
misplaced regrets
unexplained stories
and sacred rememberings.
My future reaching for
expected hopes
imagined journeys
and uncertain death.
The pleasure is to place my feet upon this ground,
this one time
this one place.
Listen.
It will not repeat.
