Perfect Strangers

To the people I’ve met on buses. To the people I’ve met in galleries. To the people I’ve met at concerts. To the people I’ve met at beaches. You were in the perfect place at the perfect time. Here are my love poems to strangers. 

Orange,

Had short curly hair

We both like the same songs

You were the ones the danced

and I was the ones who shout

Told me you liked to do pottery

The power to shape the way things held together

Wore my mom’s favorite color

Orange

She said

She loved it

Aries,

Visiting with a friend

Stopped to see some paintings

We loved the same way

and we loved the same things

Told me to look at the stars

And tell you what they said to me

You were gone

Before they talked

Sense then

I haven’t stopped listening

Birds,

You could name every plant

On the outside

Between the concrete jungle

You saw them all

We only saw one bird

What a rare sight to see

A human so passionate

About every single being

Sand,

I knew you for years

but alone you look so different

You were strong

Not as quite

Watching the waves pull in and out

Sense that day I see you now

Even sides become strangers

But within the faces

You’re why these places

Feel like home

Tattoo,

I didn’t talk to you

but the stories drawn on your arm

Reminded me

There are connections

We all share

The feelings we wish to hold

You laid bare

On your skin

Coffee,

Same order different name

Same name different order

You came along

The only difference

Was whip

I order with almond milk now

Did you change to?

Movies,

Same film

Same day

You sat next to me

I’m not one to share space

That’s not your burden to bare

You cried five times

I wish I could have held you

But you didn’t know my name.

Some sadness is better left unshared. 

Stranger,

Maybe we only spoke once

But that was enough

To write you a love poem

Even if you don’t hear it

I hope you feel when

I speak these out.