A Moment in the Street

back to back, unknowingly
him towards the crowd
myself facing the street
without turning he steps
forcing me into the chaos
i stumbled once, twice
my train schedule hit cement
in the flurry
my jaw marked with my pen
outraged - i turn in protest to find

clear eyes and daunted smile
a thousand emotions to speak
yet all i can mutter is "hello"
he laughs tugging by my elbow
"come," he says stepping back, "up"
there: the voice i cannot resist
yielding to it, i follow
he kisses my hand - his apology
i nod my acceptance

his grin breaks into a slow smile
laughing again he says he hates to smile
i call it lovely
his eyes roll as if he's aware
perhaps this is why he dislikes it

then another step
away from the street
transfixed
now he is still
the smile's faded
his blue eyes brighter
perfectly calm
he might have forgotten i were there
maybe he is more beautiful this way
suddenly i can read his heart

i tell him he was wonderful today
startled, he blinks
the silence broken
he sighs, tells me he is tired
the little smile again
reaching into his pocket he jingles
withdrawing a metal chip
his other hand reaches for mine
seizing the pen i held

quickly i begin my protest
after all that's not what i --
"shhh, little one," he says, "i know"
and in a moment, his etching done
how did he know? i never asked

just a simple line of his hand
more powerful than he'd ever realize
the coin is placed in my palm
then as if he's just remembered our collision
he asks if i am all right
never better
i marvel at the token i hold
i wished it not for it's value
but to keep a piece of him
his coin - my pen, now joined by fate

the fall
the smudge
the touch
the smile
the traffic
his despair
my breath
our moment
all of it gone

now years later
the coin with his scrawl
safely stored in a box
locked away with diamonds
and other long ago keepsakes

hardly forgotten
yet cherished more than this
is the memory of him
secured for eternity
part of my very soul