Full August orb was rising
when he slipped out his back door
to wander past her window,
take a glance and nothing more.

For he knew her kindred spirit
wanted nothing of that room
on a night when tides pulled doubt aside
truth empowered by the moon             

whose fullness and whose glory,
whose all-seeing golden face
replaced the throb of reason,
let emotion take its place.

Like an orchestrated ballet---
perfect timing crossing paths,
they met beside the river,
knew first love would be their last.

Hearts aligned like constellations,
counted days to reach eighteen.
Sweet futures flashed before them
through their open door of dreams.

© 2023 Linda Rittenhouse
2nd Place ASPS Jessie Belle Rittenhouse
Memorial Award
First published in Sandcutters