Marius and Cosette at the Counter

Eyes downcast, mind cast out
Into the void of freeform thought
This world of books has flown away
And been replaced by gentler things

The lilting statement on the air,
The salute to corporal form
It brought me back to here-and-now
Half-heard, no consequence implied.

My simple greeting, overused,
Was on my lips as eyes upturned,
And only instinct carried through
Those words I spoke as time stood still

Fractured thoughts, collected now,
Divided mind, intentions twain,
Duty calls, and things to say are few
Despite the fact my world’s turned upside down

Sensations, heartbeats, features; one-to-one
The hair that flows as if it lives,
Ba-dump, the arching smile, ba-dump
Sincere.

Moments flowing far too fast,
Ba-dump, as pleasantries exchange.
Ba-dump, the flowing motions of this dance
Make her the leader, and it turns…

As we move, together yet apart,
Eyes meeting as they roam
And with a gentle turn of wrist,
Well-sculpted nail impacts my hand.

That pressure, smooth, enameled,
Right hand, curved, gentle,
Cool as only keratin can be.
I feel it still.

Time passes on,
The dance winds down.
My hand connects with hers and rests,
The silver chiming out its song.

We smile, sincere, ba-dump,
She leaves, turns, bids
Farewell, and turns again,
Potential fades and I’m again
Alone
Remembering.