Shoulder

You'll see what you see.

I saw her unexpectedly

at the coffee shop, heart

in my throat . . . is it possible . . .

Nope, I guess 6 years is worth 

just a mere glint of recognition 

in her eye as she passed by . . .

How easy now to listlessly 

move forward in the line . . .

a bit harder to let go of 

her memory, over my shoulder.

 

Reviews

[Kelly Scheppers]

I must have been in a deep sleep to have missed this. So sorry. I've learned to stay away from coffee shops and grocery stores late at night for this very reason. That proverbial lump in the throat has the same ramifications of stumping your toe in the middle of the night. Damn, it hurts SO bad! And you looked over your shoulder as she walked away, didn't you?

[An owl on the moon]

What a beautiful, aching moment... and to feel it so deeply... the life that was... the life that has become the new normal... what amazing poetic thoughts.

[Pete]

very good. funny how we can have an intricate past with someone and it can dissolve into a quick glance over a shoulder, barely acknowledging. is it better to have seen again or never to have seen at all? memories with cream & sugar i guess. oh well, life continues on ... :)

[C. M. Miller]

Yes, yes I did. dammitt!

[Gandré]

She became the symbol of transience.

[Tim]

I like this, there's so much truth in it. Some people affect us in a way we can't forget. I'm sure you thought about the encounter long after, wondering if she thought about it just as much.