promise

do you remember back when we were
what were we? 
we were so small! we were 
everywhere 
and nowhere 
out of time 
and the stuff time is made of 
we were potential we 
flowed and flowed 
in 
endless 
entangled
waves 
and we were each other 
and now we're here 
because we made a pact to meet 
we whispered, 

let's meet on an 
island 
but not just any 
island 
let's meet at the top 
of 
the 
world 
on an island that's tearing apart
and we'll 
share a volcano 
and we'll 
feel the earth shudder 
together 
we'll 
get wet 
in sloppy rain 
as if we've 
always 
done 
that 
and we'll 
sit on the grasses 
at the heart of town 
we'll 
share friends 
and our parting will be hard  
we'll 
run the other way after 
long 
slow 
kisses 
and try to fall in love with others 

our lives will be complex
we'll be 
heroes in our world! 
we'll be 
just like each other 
our lines undefined 
i'll ask in awe 
am i touching you? 
i am touching you 
but 
where 
do 
you 
begin? 
we’ll be 
mystified 
we’ll be 
incompatible star signs 
our years will 
compete and tease 
inauspiciously 

when we were so 
immense 
we made this agreement 
you’ll 
look at me one night 
stunned 
and you'll say 
you are me and 
yes 
i’ll smile
it is my pleasure to be you! 
all our differences will make us a 
long 
slow 
goodbye 
even as we swim through our ether 
towards each other 
again

i’ll push you away! 
i’ll whisper 
please come back 
please 
kiss me 
again 
you'll look 
deep into 
my eyes 
and you'll say
no 
i don't think i will 
just like Rhett 
and we'll both 
know 
that just one more 
kiss 
would seal us together in doom on that kind of night 
you'll say

in time





we can swim this

we can 
with our big lovely eyes 
and our smug attitudes 
we can 
circle 
our suns  
at the top of the universe

in 

spaces 

in 

between

we 


promised

i will 
love 
for 
you 

and you
will
too 
for
me







© Maria Alva Roff 2011