For You,
(with the unusually extra “h”)

 

Tonight,

I will remember that you first liked my shoes

Before I turned and fell into your young smile

Before the too fast hour of our talking    twisted my tongue

Before you took a sip of water to calm the scratch in your throat

Before …Before ,,,Before …

 

You are too young for the history of the story in meeting you

too freshly faced

standing pat across from my graying façade

your smile sending me over and back again

testing my words in response to your unexpected   ready   banter

 

You are already a carrier of calm    slightly boisterous certainties

and I wonder   just how to justify not asking for more of your time tonight

that sudden peace in your eyes

already   removing me from the restlessness of the week

already  taking me well into a candlelight

that makes staring up at the stars and wishing   pointless

 

I want to remember the surprise of you

want to be careful about leaving you refreshed and waxed aplomb

you are younger than my first born

I discover between laughter and ideas

and it swells my chest that you already know the rhythm of exchange

that your heart is ready to chase in a direct path

that you know the taste of stepping forward

that you allowed me to say

Stay alert

and beautifully awake

and goodbye