I had finished my shift
slinging boxes from belts
between my business and their boardroom
I just got a lift
with my car in the shop
and my pops brought me home under a full moon
too many caffeine gifts
I fucking knew two cold brews
would have me too wired to wind down
I made a rift
with middle age stages telling me
bed pages would stop this rage
I moved my feet
walked downtown past the homes
and businesses still addressing the recession
in my retreat
I found a black chair down stream
from a couple kneading psychedelic puffs in their conversation
I felt the heat
this was the first warm night
where the Sun's bite indented the dark at 72 degrees
but also felt the heat
when I saw you drive by in your truck
as you turned to see me staring
you almost hit that pedestrian!
you hit me
I hadn't seen you for ten years and yet somehow
After all that I had loved and lost
And all the ups and downs
That old waxy glimmer at the sill of your eyes
reminded me that there was still parts of me
beating blood with anchored air
you went around the block a few times
thinking, "should I go back there and say 'hi'?"
but going back wasn't a block away
It was years off
going back was pulling forward
the time we had
everything from the acquaintance waves
to the friendly hugs
to lustful looks
and to the loving grace of walking away
you stepped out of your truck
which was twice as high as you
and slammed the door
and before I got to study
and relearn your body's course through the dark
how your work clothes settled and shuffled gravity
and how your smirk melted a dozen suns
you were here
you were right here in front of me
squeezed into an embrace like an old lock
tug hard enough and it is free
I never knew you to be a scorpion
but this encounter had the hinges
of a dripping stinger
you sat me back down
your feet pinned mine to the ground
your hands pressed my arms into the chair
you leaned forward to bless my memory with one final gaze
and I knew it was over
I knew I couldn't feel worthless anymore
there was no judgement over my head
fear scampered off with its tail between its legs
I knew your presence meant
there was only room for the swift sting of lasting love