Their souls met before their bodies.
Nodded in recognition,
“I know you!”
Agreed to help, teach, open each others’ hearts
   to giving without hesitation
   to receiving without reservation.

Their minds met before they kissed.
Translated their souls’ wisdom into words
   their imperfect selves could try to understand.
Yearnings, learnings, leanings, meanings,
Embodied in their two earnest selves.

They kissed before they knew.
Passion awakened, promise glimpsed.
“Wait,” he said,
“Wait until it’s sure.”
The perfection of real love awaited certainty.

He offered a gift,
Its full measure not quite grasped
   by her protected heart.
She ripped open a corner -- a haiku popped out
She opened some more --
   poetry flowed
   a mirror revealed.
She saw herself, a reflected beauty,
A miracle of joy.

But the gift remained only partly seen,
Not spurned -- no never spurned.
Just... just... out of reach.
Her heart in the deepest darkest corner of the box.
His heart in the shadow of her fear.

Her shock of recognition came too late.
“O ma ye maya,” she crooned.
“EEEIIIEEE!” she keened.
“rrroarrr!” as she tore open the container.
“Oh!”
Broken box, broken heart,
Flew like a phoenix to the light.

She turns to see what will be.