You Thought You Knew Me

your big eyes bigger, your lovely mouth open,
your laughter an echo in my soul, but down
the years we changed and even the red buds
faded or split open
during the Kansas winter ice storms.

we stayed inside our homes,
watching the snow fill the forest,
and the little stream froze solid, so
my notes could not drift to you.
I never knew if you read them,
tossed them aside, or laughed
till the tractors stopped.

I tried to see you through the flakes,
the miles between us nothing but
a white shadow, your eyes glowing and mine
seeking them out.

Did you hear me call that dark midnight
when I needed you?