the first time i saw you
you smiled,
nodded,
and in your face
i read

yes.
of course.

it stunned me at first.
made me do a double take.
then
i felt you settle
into some centered beach
in my soul
as if
you belonged there,
stretched out
relaxed
soaking it all in,
yes. of course.
it was a you-shaped
spot in the sand
just waiting
for that smile
that nod
that, yes. of course.
 
then
after strings and strings of
missed connections
missed opportunities
miscommunications
and it all feels so
damned
crazy,
in my mind
i quit,
walk away,
give up

resolved for the last time
that this is
the last time;
i look at your picture
and hear
yes. of course.
and try to shout it down.
no!
this doesn’t work.
not now anyway.
no!
i must grieve you
and the dream of us,
gather my spirit up
like layers
of skirts in my hands,
and move on.
kick rocks!
 
then
i find you again;
your voice, your touch, your presence,
the energy that wraps around us
when we are near one another.
and there you are,
back on my beach
like you’d never left;
yes. of course.
yes. of course.
yes. of course.
it comes in waves,
waters flowing
with life and dreams
imagination and wonder
crash after crash
yes. of course.
yes. of course.
yes. of course.
 
Yes.  Of Course.