“Someone You’d Admire”
as many ghosts inside as out,
old selves & no selves
haunting equally:
the invisible is not unknown,
what might have been was,
and should be minded.
(until there is nothing left
unremembered
there will always be the imagined.)
all of this to get at what can’t be said:
so much of anger is regret,
& so much resentment ,
only disappointment—unspoken:
only missing all the right words.
-------
soon all arguments settled by
birdsong & journey:
forest, mountain, a ledge to step over,
old sights for new eyes:
leave the dusty traps behind for silent friends:
there is no betrayal that distance won’t temper into tantrum only.
funny how ghosts (of self) slip away into obscurity
when the familiar slides away like an old commute.
I’ll forgive your changes if you’ll forgive my going away.
This is as much for me as it is for you.
There’s always next year,
I hope we’ll all be someone to admire,
again.
Right Before My Eyes
nothing touches two-month eyes,
learning expression through patient practice,
impatient cries turn quickly to a look of budding love.
first willing stare: two seas of white, their blue islands,
& dark centers saying:
dilation, attention, will be love.
you, who already I admire, will learn love & fear
this way too: as we know, love's first
seed is only deepest need.
let that blue not betray:
be whichever you fits finest,
& let there be no debt to doubt.
there is no promise like watching you
become you, right when I need most,
& right before my eyes.
