Two Lives Crossing

I spent last night with my love from another life
A string of beautiful moments from what might have been
Not really stolen, for they were freely given
Something I needed, but didn't know it.
An opportunity missed, long ago mourned

But unlike the saying, it did knock again.... kind of
Not really the same. This time it was just a night, not a lifetime.
'Just' a night! No, that word won't do.

You walked past me and language was lost and forgotten.
My lips could find no words,
but this time they found your mouth instead.
And finding your mouth I lost everything else -
as I found the rest of you.

We laughed and played.
Talked and touched.
Made love as if this one night were a whole life time.
As though things had unfolded as they were supposed to do
As though this time were not the first
and the last.

'Are you happy?' I asked. You shrugged.

'Is this wrong?' you asked and your eyes lost focus.

I didn't answer, I just held you.
Like it was the most natural thing to do.
It felt right to me.

By some strange karmic tie
After you left, and before I made my way home, I saw your husband.

Well, I think I did. I only met him twice when he was with you.
And mostly, I only remember seeing you.

You had told me that he was with someone else as we lay together.
His eyes told me he hadn't been but that he was still looking
- even before he opened his mouth.
I bristled and looked away.
But like a cat ignored he approached.

'Don't we know each other?' he asked.
'Or is it just from seeing you around somewhere?'

'Probably,' I nodded and shrugged and moved to excuse myself.

But he held out his hand,
And gave me his name
And asked for mine.

In stunned silence, I cursed my inability to lie before
I coughed up my own name like poison
as I shook his hand smiling,
turned,
and walked away.

I tightened my coat and
walked into the bitter February cold,
alone.

I do not know if he found what he was looking for
But he, I presume,
eventually made his way home to his own bed -
already warm from your nakedness.