there is so much you don’t know
do you measure our distance
the way I do?

you once told me you’d do anything for me
it was christmas
warm that year
I wore a light sweater to church
the candles like stars amid pews

that winter you couldn’t stop apologizing
your new year’s resolution-
to be a better person
sometimes you said- to earn me

in the museum
there was the painting you loved
the cherry blossom tree
full bloom, pink and warm
beside it, the same tree, branches bare
you said you loved this one
because it looked like a photograph

in the spring your fortune came
your voice was different
you were always smiling

we spoke once
you thanked me for being special
when you needed it

you couldn’t have known
how happy I was on Christmas