i asked him
how he stood on the shore
of the ocean
and let the waves crash around him
(i was afraid i would be pulled under)

i asked him
why he always wore white
how those fabrics
seemed to shimmer with every color
and none at all
(i was afraid to stain my clothes)

i asked him
if those trailing tears on his cheeks
ever stung as they fell
(i was afraid to let them see my own)

i asked him
how he got
his big beautiful wings
how he soared so smoothly in the skies
(i was afraid of those herculean heights)

he told me there were times
he had inhaled the salty water
blood had stained his clothes
his tears had left scars in their wake
and he had flown too close to the sun

and when he spoke
every word fell on my skin
like a star from the heavens

and when he stood in front of me
i was no longer afraid
to touch
an angel