every season in one night

seeing you for the first time
in real life
was like spring,
the first bud and bloom from the cracked dead soil.
as I walked closer
your light and warmth making it certain
It has began.
Even prettier in person.

Our walk to the bar
like the first week of summer
when school’s out
adventurous humidity
pure and thick in the air .
orange wedge floating In our
matching pints of burnt orange beer
like our own slice of the
same fiery summer sunset
round and full.
we sit together,
here together,
personal
chitchat
curiosity and intimacy
flirting knees bumping
smirks and eye gazes.
I could have stayed in your lion’s den all August afternoon
the whole time I thought we had sunset when it was Blue Moon

Leave our summer bar
you even put your jacket on,
strolling like we’re in the park on an windy autumn Sunday,
passed the over-sized Pac-Man
the falling leaves swirling all around us
I grasp your arm to stay on the ground,
you hitch your elbow,
anchor up to you I do
as we kick piles of leaves
you and I winding down
to the end of the points card
make our way to the exit that was once the entrance

push through the doors
out into the dark parking lot
the cold black with the winter stars
leave the flashing
beeping
jingling
bustle
to tense shoulders trying to keep the warmth in
breath more visible in this moment than where I see us next
kiss you with so much behind it
every bit of me chooses you
though I’m likely to lose you

we’ve somehow bent the clocks
been through every season in one night
and it is here in this full year
I’ve found a home I know I won’t ever get to settle in to