Meeting in Mind

May 1, 2003

Upon the white sands of this beach
that exists only here in my mind
I walk towards the trees to my right.
I take a long, langorous walk
away from the sweetness of the water.
I walk over to my sandals,
slip them on one at a time,
and walk into the shadowed woods
to go down the garden path
back to the hexagonal white building.
Windows as tall as myself
greet me and invite me to come inside.
I gladly go into the cooled room.
I open the refrigerator and
instantly my flesh is raised.
I pull out Monterey Jack,
and then add wheat crackers
to my midday snack.
The white room has a cushion
in the center, made softer than down.
I place the cheese plate
on the marble sidetable.
I go to the fountain and let
water pour into a crystal glass.
Sunlight peaks in from the many windows
and falls upon my legs as I lay
in the center of the room.
I smile as I feel him come home.
His presence is intoxicating,
even long before he's reached the door.
I look into his eyes and my smile
turns to words for him.
"Come here. Come sit with me,
and enjoy the day with me."
He settles in next to me
and his words are soft but sad.
"I need your warmth to restore me.
I need you to hold me. Put your hands
around me and just lay your head here."
He rests his hand on his breast,
and my head follows his lead.
My arms go around his body, and
tears are soon to follow.
I ask him, "Why the tears, why today?"
He says, "It is just a feeling.
It will pass."
I stop asking, but I feel it so deeply.
Soon, the wave of sadness ends.
I feel his hands embrace me, and I see
that his smile is now dancing on his face.
The incurable need to hold him doesn't leave.
I keep him next to me, and let
the silence speak of all the stresses
that led him here.
Here, in the fantasy world
of white and woods and sea.