Too little, too late
You've changed
And the world has moved on.

The direction of your life
is a different direction
from the love that you desired
to taste

Crisp as the apple
Sickly sweet but bitter finish
Fruit becoming wine
Nectar of the inevitable stares
The inevitable smirk
Slow eye contact and heart palpitations

My stomach sinks and my heart races
All day I had felt this burning
And now all night
I hoped you to never leave the floor
Which was covered in memories --
Love
Love
Love

I never wanted the night to end
But the clock kept ticking
An expiration on our escapade
An expiration of our speech without movement
Simple, somber eyes locking and unlocking
The keys to those barred doors
Banging to get in
Or get out
Slipping along the wall, sobbing to a seat

When the Last drop of wine fell onto the floor
And the night winded away
I kept looking around
Hoping for an answer to my pressing
But the only answer lay in your palm
Holding me up
Forever your hand upon my back
Encouraging
But invisible and warm
Your life sinking into mine and my tears
always becoming the ocean that sways
and passes and opens comfort and security
Wide and dark and the essence of you
Serene and stable but everflowing
Your eyes mirroring the surf that touches my hand
Sitting
Thousands of words sprinkled in the sand
Your name written in the type of deep wounds that fill with water and salt to wash away what was.
But I return and re-write you in those memories
and I press my body against the earth and I breathe you in and your face appears over me.
Inhaling your existence, I taste the wine on your mouth
And suddenly I'm back. Retreating from your gaze
Back on the porch. Back with everyone. But so lost in you.

And though I have changed,
The world has moved on.