Close Encounterings Poem by Lonnie Hicks

Encountering the other
is Instant's Eon
savored on the Souls Plate
because properly seen
encountering is the essence of Life's Feast.

To fade away from this Fete
is to die bereft
in which too many
only taste
at Life's End.

No,
free are Love's Gifts
eyes can convey
touches can communicate
yet so many
have only the Coward's Take
hiding behind
Rejections Face-
the Fools Path-
sadnesses given
heaven
closed away in the instant
hearts either touch,
or embrace fear fleeing.

So reach you next time
because brief encounters matter
tender you a tentative smile
move beyond Fear's Face
offer your Soul's Plate
because
other wise
you and other
mutually
starve
within
Fear's
Fate
and drift away
still bereft
the isolate
each residing
with that loneliness
which does not sate.