You may have had such a conversation in your own mind, long after the event. |
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Experimental ConversationThis conversation keeps running through my mind,long after we stood silently and said goodbye I don’t want this you know and looked at her, traced the hair swept back across her ear and made her look at me It’s not the wrong time and place, the time is now, the place is here and we belong together, not apart I know, she said, I know Then let me say the things I need to say, the things I thought you understood, without the need to put it all to words The wrong time is never wrong, when one person hears another’s song and understands the words I know, she said, I know As for the place, I need to learn the place See it through your eyes and know the streets that cross your city and intersect your life I know my life, but need a guide to yours Need you to take me by the hand and show me what it is that makes me care Take me back, because I’m at the edge of loving and I can’t bear to have you leave me here It makes such sense, my conversation rambles on, for us to keep the hold and not let go She nods and puts her head on my shoulder It was always such a perfect fit, she said Our lives? No, your shoulder, but it’s a start and I held her for a moment, not breathing Love begins with trust, I said, we need to trust I know, she said, I know I’ve come half a world to know you in a language that’s not yours, that you may not understand To know the perfect child that’s behind your eyes Language is all we have, just words and trust I’m not a child, she said, and I’m not perfect We’re all children, I said, and perfect every one of us, but it takes love and trust to show ourselves I know, she said, at least I want to know So here we are I said, and we’re about to turn away, about to let it all slide off and run to others, who won’t ask so much of us, won’t want to know I want to know, so please don’t turn away from me Not when finally the time is now, the place is here and you and I are so very close to trust Not finding words, she nodded against my shoulder The one that fit perfectly and we turned, walked home A conversation running in my mind long past the time when we stood silently and said goodbye |
 This poem is included in Jim Freeman's poetry collection CORNER OF MY MIND available here in print or as an e-Book in your favorite formats. |
