Looking again
at the photograph
I have buried from view
for much of these twelve years,
I consider strange, beautiful passion
anchored deeply to my soul and wonder,

            Did I love you mostly
because in an unguarded moment
you saw the dying star I was
and released a tear of honor?

             Did I love you only
because you are so lucky
and have the life I wish I had?

            Did I love you then
because your gentle spirit wrapped
me for a time in grace, protected
me for a moment from the burning sun?

            Did I love you perhaps
because you were a gateway
to all my hopes and dreams?

            Did I love you in remembrance,
having known you and loved you
in some other time or space
far from this unlucky life of mine?

                        *

Fading now, you seem
farther, more distant, away on one of
your life’s grand adventures, having forgotten so soon
all you’ve left behind. You appear confused, lost and
standing in a valley, wondering which mountain climb
will lead you back to truth you sacrificed.

            Did you love me mostly
because you saw me climbing mountains,
daring the journey, even as I slipped and slid
and never made it to the summit?

            Did you love me only
because of that vast need embedded in me
to be loved somewhere by someone?

            Did you love me then
because you are good and kind and
I had been left alone in the cold?

            Did you love me perhaps
because you knew you could open doors
and pivot me closer to my dreams?

            Did you love me in remembrance
having known and loved me in some other
time or space when it was still possible
for those dreams to spring to life?