Shattered lovers touch
through the haze of a face in a dream,
human, lucid, real.
As naked and exposed as skeleton trees
viewed through the window of a passing train.

Reluctant memories breeze down the long corridor
and become as remote and barren
as the vision of hips in the distance.
That painful and merciful act of walking away,
disconnecting.

Persistent memories breeze up the long corridor
and become as current and promising
as an oasis served up in tiny china tea cups.
That painful and merciful act of walking toward,
connecting.