I had a dream,
just a few nights back,
after an exhausting day
at work.
Through a crumbling French city,
I wandered,
lost
and alone.
Signs,
stores,
cryptic words clouded my sight.
It was early morning,
starts twinkled into rest,
but I could not find the sun,
as he was hidden
by a multitude of heavy,
dark clouds,
grey,
and lined with faint traces of orange
and green.
The ground shook slightly
from the bombs
my ears could but faintly detect
through miles of clean,
cool French air.
On I walked,
stumbling over rubble,
amazed at the destruction,
the loss of life,
the loss of beauty.
Pausing atop a fallen wall,
I was amazed to hear music.
Following the sound,
as a dog following a scent,
my stumbling feet brought me to a village
teeming with life,
yet somehow,
I felt no shock,
the impossible rendered expected.
Something in the window of a small silversmith’s shop
caught my eye.
It was not,
as one might imagine,
a piece of jewelry,
nor a silver cup,
but my own reflection,
clean and clear in the unbroken glass.
I watched,
as my dusty,
tattered clothes melted away,
replaced with shirt and tie,
warm as though freshly pressed.
Upon seeing my own face,
scarred with lines of age
and care,
marked by emotion
and trials,
by life,
I seemed to take leave of my body,
and saw my reflection as one sees fine portrait.
I noted every detail of my features,
saw despair and confusion glimmering in my eyes.
Tearing myself from this deep,
self-examination,
I continued onward in the direction
of a small,
roadside cafe.
I sat at a table on the terrace,
your bright shining eyes
and warm smile
confirmed my hopes,
you had been waiting for me.
You arose,
greeted me,
Though not a word was spoken between us,
we heard
and understood,
the unspoken apologies after years of silence.
The whole time we smiled.
A waitress,
in perfect French,
proper intonation,
you placed our order,
coffee and pastries.
Small talk.
Words reunite,
progress and develop,.
We moved on to speak of truth,
and of love.
The waitress,
our coffee,
black,
stark as loss,
bitter as pain.
Imported from Hungary,
it was rich and full,.
I felt it flow
like sap through my veins,
the taste lingered on my lips
as I reached for an artwork
of cream and sugar,
light like your laughter.
We smiled as we struggled
to devour our treats
without wearing them as well.
Hunger satisfied,
we sat together,
knowing each other,
loving each other,
we smiled the entire time.
I took hold of my cup,
prepared to finish the last
few
precious drops.
I stopped,
inches from my face,.
I saw once again my reflection,
now in my drink.
Lined with shadow,
painted on a canvas of jet,
seen in the light of your company,
I scarcely recognized my own face.
No longer sad,
weariness departed,
my face was joy,
elation.
my eyes held only love for you.
My head snapped up to see once again
the treasure I held.
Startled at first,
you paused your laughter,
and let your smile slide.
Staring into my eyes,
deep into my eyes,
you told me what I wanted to hear,
“I love you, David”
I knew.
I continued to stare,
a hot tear ran down my cheek,
a broke my reflection
as it collided with the mirror of my cup.
You reached out your hand,
grasping my own,
and the world disappeared.
You smiled again.
Night.
A blanket of darkness covered the sky,
a million shimmering candles
twinkled one by one
to light the heavens.
One bore your name.
Perhaps one was mine.
I turned to you,
to see my thoughts echoed in your face,
remembered how alike we are.
I slipped my arms around you,
and pulled you close,
held you tight,
knowing you smiled.
Hours later,
we both understood.
Time to depart.
I stood and you followed suit,
with head bent low,
hiding a tear.
Once more,
I drew you near,
an embrace of closest friends.
We turned our separate ways,
each to our own,
and smiled secret smiles as we walked away.
They can never take away that road-side cafe.
We smiled the entire time.
9.2.95