Collected Poems 4
Encounter
Ever since then
I see your face in every place,
In a thousand different lights,
Savoring the sight but for an instant —
Then shift my eyes askance
To avoid having to watch
Your eyes glide past
In airy unawareness.
But to what avail?
There is no escape at night
When through inside walls of circles
Awash with color you enter
And stand before me,
Rebuffing with your smile.
I saw a girl with long black hair
In front of me looking in a mirror,
I moved closer and saw you there,
combing your eyebrows.
You walked away, your image remained,
Your mirrored eyes
Fixed on me, empty.
Away from here, go, be off!
Ere those eyes crush me
With their vacant stare.