They Said Poem by Lonnie Hicks

Close Enough, First Touch

He said:
'They told me
I should look for
the almost pretty one,
the one with the nice hair
who looked pretty
from the back
but once turned around
the face would be
disappointing.

I came to the party looking
for you
in that description
yet saw no one there.'

She said
'They told me of you
that you would be
the almost handsome one
too thin, shy looking
with dull eyes.

I looked
saw you
thinking you a stranger
taken by
how absolutely
familiarly stunning
you felt
sure that my fix-me-up-date
had not come;
felt you move
beside me
sigh against me
in the conversation
breathing in.

You took my hand;
I let you
because you smiled so
and because
your hand
was soft
caressing
in the small of my back
fitting there
guiding me to the patio
where the stars turned
watched us
come
brightened
lit our way.

He said to her:
'You have beautiful hair
black filaments
flying in the night
with stars
in between
a happy flow
the wind loves.

She said
'It was not
how he looked
I was taken with
it was how he felt
beside me
comfortable
as in forever.'

He said
'She had me
at arms brush.

She felt like home.