thoughts of you recede
wave by wave
until the tide is low
and my mind is dry

but then sure enough

my shore draws you back in
and the water begins to rise
wave by wave
until the tide is high
and my mind is immersed
once more

i went to the library
strolled through the aisles
i stopped at some books
even flipped through a few
i passed by the one with the familiar spine
once, twice, three times i glanced at it
and continued on my search
but when none of the books
lived up to their covers
i turned back once more
lifted it from the shelf

*i haven’t put you down since