we were but strangers
that happened to cross paths
I saw you staring
and I couldn’t help but look back
a mere encounter
that didn’t form any wonders
only a red thread
that signifies this is not the end.
fate has a playful way of doing things
for I saw you once more,
and another time,
and another time.
the same face,
the same stare.
anticipation filled
the next encounter.
life seems so exciting,
without knowing the after,
staying in the safe zone
of the unknown.
or so I tried to convince myself,
for my heart could not take the baritone
of your first “hello.”

—a.c.

I once knew a girl from a north country shore 
as it was some place I had been to before.
We had met one fine day going down the street
each walking in opposite directions sweet.
We were both minding our own business when
an incident happened for us to meet then;
some elderly lady with a shopping bag
was coming along but got caught in a snag;
one of her shoes on the uneven pavement
nearly sent her headlong towards derailment.
Fortunately for her we were both there to
stop her from falling and to save the bag's spew.

As we helped the lady and looked at each other
we caught a gleam of light in our eyes to bother
all preconceived notions of what life was about
and it seemed we were both uneasy to find out.
For we looked up and away with sighs of relief
then back again at each other in disbelief.
I couldn't help seeing then the look on her face;
reflections of my own as from a mirrored place.
Or was it an image from deep within my heart
projected outward being therein from the start?
What happened next was not so amazing to tell
as we spoke certain words of greeting and farewell.
________