I am at the gate

Let’s not quarrel over the exit sign

what it means to either of us

or how the evening cold knows to settle this close

to our hearts

let’s not

wonder about the universe

or how time knows to pass this slowly

waiting for last words that will not come

or how the river knows to flow this way

to catch tears that will not stop

fingers interlocked

eyes to the floor

watching the earth shift instead

I imagine our reunion will be a simple call

where I am stunned with joy

unable to muster a hello and you say,

‘I am at the gate’