“love is not impatient,”
           she said,
“not gripping, nor envious, nor bitter;
       love needs no reflection to cast its light.”
    as the dogwood blossoms fell.

           “love is generous beyond measure,”
  he replied,
     “and like a river finds the truest channel.”
  and in the bright blue sky the swollen moon smiled down.

“my love runs deep,”
     she said,
    “with ebbs and flows, back waters where
            sometimes leaves are trapped.”
    brushing her hair behind her ears.

“i will give this love however you can bear it,”
         he replied,
     “i will wrestle my heart for you,
  leave all doors open, and invite ruin for the sake of a smile.”
         and the churning mist dampened his eyes.

there, as old men watched,
      roots dug deep,
  a stone skipped across the clear pool’s surface,
      and she could not see the ripple.

there, amidst the towering cathedrals,
     wind worn bone,
  the last fruit fell and he could not kneel to take it,
         for fear of startling a doe.