There Comes a Time

Her pale skin
Was as soft
As warm
As the spring grass
Upon which she lay.

The soft breeze
Rippling the waters
Beyond our patchwork quilt
Tossed her long brown hair
Tugged at the fabric
Of her sundress
Revealing the charm
Of her form.

I leaned against the rough bark
Of an old oak.
Dappled sunlight played upon her
The way children might frolic
Without care
On a bright noonday.

Her gaze held me
The way her arms might.

The corners of her mouth
Turned upward
Into an easy smile.
She was not speaking
Yet she communicated easily.
Her thoughts broadcast
The way Tibetan prayer flags
Summon attention
Calling for care.

Come to me
She was saying.
I am yours to love
Yours to explore
Yours to have
In the delight of the shimmering sun.
Yours.

There comes a time
Language is intrusive.
Words grow clumsy
Get in the way.

There comes a time
The entire universe collapses
And the only action appropriate
Is to reduce the space between
Until lips meet
And tongues express
Wordlessly
And the only reason the day
Holds charm and purpose
Is to introduce
One to another
Until there are no longer two
But one
Occupying two shadows
Indistinguishable
As separate forms.

There comes a time
All language
Is reduced to a sigh
And the only reason for memory
Is to return to one moment
Long ago.