Lyric for Two

Foreign but
Familiar.

Wide, surprising smile 

Makes his eyes take
a new shape, 

playful.

The screen door 

Of the front porch

In a country home 

Opens - 

You taste a childlike charm,

At ease enough, but
yet 

to invite you in.

His eyes a brighter blue 

each moment
Passing
Quick laughter
rising, crackling, 

making sense of that saying -

He cracks you up too.

Later
in the quiet 

Dim light doesn’t hide
that weighted, 

pensive look - 

Thoughts passing through his face
like 

soft-footed cats, 

shadows

Behind silhouettes,

Sensed more than seen.

Words, unfound,
let alone 

shared with you.

Brings to mind
A boy 

I knew once.

Who wrote to me, after
our knowing 

had long passed,

To say he was
sorry.

He thought he had used me -

Sweetest heart, 

I had seen the shadows, 

Muted sorrow,

and stepped forth
willingly

To hold hands and hold

loneliness,
yours and mine.

This man, and he, share that similarity

Those quiet moments,
bringing comfort 

along with

Sadness.

Not meant yet to be shed

of the shell that 

cracked them open

And
led them
here.