knowing

knowing

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

“[i carry your heart with me(i carry it in],” e. e. cummings

alone she sat in the passenger seat of the car

windows up and talking on her cell phone

to the one she loved with all her heart

she was glad to tears to hear his voice

she was sad to tears not to be against the curve of him

and she tried to send the aching of her heart

through the voice she also fought to hide the trembling

he (the one she loved with all her heart) was busy

on the other side of the phone miles and miles away

and his voice was all distraction and rush

everything except the longing she wanted to share

so she sat alone on the cell phone crying

silently behind the windows of a car for anyone to see

•

he walked out of the restaurant and saw her in the car

he did not know her

he did not know the other side of her phone call

he did not know why she was crying

he did not know what she was saying

but he knew that she was beautiful in her sadness

wordless to him a total stranger except for the shared longing

he knew somehow what was beneath the tears

and behind the windows of a car he did not know

and in that moment of knowing

he wanted to tap the window gently

meet her eyes briefly and clearly

before opening the door and leaning

close enough to slip his hand behind her neck

close enough to bring his face to hers

and kiss gently the tears across her face

and he also knew that this sudden need

to show this stranger he understood

stood pale and distant behind his longing

to run at that very moment until he reached

the one he loved now distant and lost to him

and say to her with his hand warm on hers

i know

i have always known before i knew you

i will always know