theatrics

oh,
what we could have
been

if love were
as easy as
desire

as easy as
her hand
on mine
in a dark
theater

just she and i
together

life flashing
on a screen
not touching us

life gets
in the way

they tell me
life should not
get in the way

that if life
gets in
the way
then it was
not right
in the first place

but i can’t
bring myself
to think that way

it’s hard
to see beyond
tenderness
shared,

to think beyond
her touch
and the look
in her eyes
and the promises
we whispered silently
against
each other’s
lips.

no one told me
to look hard
at the other details

not that
it matters anyway,

i would still
go tumbling down
into

impossible loves
wreckless fantasies
fleeting realities

unable
to curse
the who
the what
the when
the why
love ends

because
we find love
through
a who
a what
a when
a why

and yes
romance
is fleeting

and perfect
is impossible

and aching
seems
inevitable

i’d happily
take that
ride again
in a second

because
of that
slim
delicious
chance

that when
the lights come on
and people
start to
brush past us

she’ll still
be holding
my hand.