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.