It Was Like a Date
he held doors open for me
he carried my books
he let me order first
I looked into his eyes
my stomach was a butterfly museum
we got to know each other better
I wondered if I'd see him again
a calendar shed history onto the carpet
we talked about music
silence sat atop the napkin dispensers to absorb
the shy ingredients
we sat by a window
we finished each other's exclamations
we walked through centuries to get there
the trees changed seasons
vulnerability - the soup of the minute
we found sunflowers in each other's ears
we crossed the streets our heroes lived on and
sung their eternity
there were angels in the salt and pepper shakers
I felt like upside down dancing
more a Chagall bride than a woman
more a woman than usual
of this I realized it resembled love.
Ellyn Maybe
Ellyn Maybe is the author of The Cowardice of Amnesia (2.13.61 Publications), The Ellyn Maybe Coloring Book (Sacred Beverage Press), and Putting My 2 Cents In (self-published chapbook). She reads her work all over the country and will be featured at the Seattle Poetry Festival and Taos Poetry Circus.