it was a glorious, fleeting moment
when you came up the stairs
you were early.
I wasn’t even awake when you called.
you remind me of
iced coffee
and rain,
warm blankets
and long car rides.
to the untrained eye,
you are quiet-
reserved.
although tall,
you tuck yourself away.
twisted but soft,
the dark around you is not solid black,
curtained by shades of ebony,
like a shield,
you protect yourself.
but I see you
even with my blind eyes
my vision is keen
I see you.
in between bowls of cinnamon Life
and raspberry iced tea,
in between the line for Guitar Center,
and flying and falling on a swing,
I see your honey eyes
and I hear your laughter.
it would be simple to say
“you aren’t like others”
but that’s stupid.
and you aren’t simple,
but neither am I
it’s the distinct complexities
that create such a compliment
people like compliments,
getting them,
and people like to give, too
their opinions.
but you don’t care.
a type of whirlwind–
you do as you please
almost carelessly,
effortlessly.
a considerable middle finger
to everybody’s expectations.
but never truly carelessly.
you care.
every detail matters,
you pay attention
nothing goes unnoticed.
everything gets captured in your lens.
including me.
every time caught in a downpour
every lyric screamed in a car ride
every smirk, every wink, every yawn.
you saw me.
it was a glorious, fleeting moment
when you kissed me good-bye
you were early.
but I was awake,
and I watched as the train took you away.