a beautiful gesture, saying both go and hello:
one knuckle, a faint bristle of a hand
negligible, really, you probably didn’t feel it
but my heart somersaulted, knuckle to knuckle,
like a butterfly fluttering on a ledge, for a moment
it was nothing
one accidental, completely unexpected
touch
waiting to be awakened, here and now, weight
of two lifetimes placed from my hand to yours
a whole fulfillment
to feel for a second what it was to be so close
to you. Perhaps you will forget,
always a fingertip away,not notice
our destinies unfolding, meeting there,
at the knot of our sinews, marrying, there,
so close and closer yet, than we had ever been:
one mingling of our bodies in one pinnacle
and I am scared. For I know that the body,
hand that touched mine will markthe soul,
its influence spreading to the rest
of our lives,
its whisper in the light of forever saying
hello,
and farewell.
