Before You Go

as unassuming as a wind’s arrival
a presence so strong and distinct
a void filled and gratified
a joy as deep as it was fleeting

a laugh so free as it was real
a felicity unrestrained
how silly to believe in its permanence
he was just like november’s rain

a man so real yet so abstracted
his words a chime to my ears
a mystery, a secret, a boggling conundrum
he managed to bring out the held-back tears

a burst of rapture, an endless wonder
a dream, one beautiful and sublime
a shower of a million colours
how naive to think its endless
an experience so vivifying
as much as it was soothing
a ‘goodbye’ that got caught in the depths of my throat
for a parting that seemed impending
an encompassing charm that seized my breath
and presented me with dreams of long ago
alas, i was just a stop on his sojourn
“one last coffee before you go?”