It was not a sad moment
well sad in part
measuring moments
to count them
I don’t know
that would be too distracting
moments like
how many times
she touches her hair
maybe between when
he last glanced her way
till when it seemed like he might
look at her again.
Just a moment of anticipation
she touches her hair
I don’t know
twice no three then a forth time
but he paused
he paused just short of seeing her
her shoulders dropped
her hand stopped
her fingers caught
in the tangles of her hair
I hadn’t counted on her trembling
want painted so clearly
in her eyes, on her mouth
want unsatisfied
an infinitesimal moment
sad for a tic
then sad drifted away
when he continued
his eyes meeting hers
he caught her desire
wondering why it was for him
he might have smiled
I don’t know
by that time I had been distracted
by how she had made her hair float
freely, all waves and curls
at just the right moment
just like he had seen it
then been rightly pleased
again I don’t know
because he took her hand
pulling her out of my sight
I counted seventeen steps
before she was gone
before I was alone
only for a moment
how could I be sad
again I don’t know.
Judith A. Sears
©09/22/2018
5,839 Prime Words 