I wouldn’t call it a rupture;
it was too gradual for that.
More a misunderstanding
that wasn’t spoken about
before she moved away

because I wasn’t positive
it was a misunderstanding
and didn’t want to confront
and create one at the same
time. Besides, I figured

we’d meet again the way
we always had, but didn’t
expect to turn into such a
homebody, unwilling to go
downtown even when she

came to town. So our lives
passed, and it’s over thirty
years since I saw her, ten
times the years I knew her,
ten times the lost chances.

We don’t know or want to
time’s breadth and danger
while in the midst of it
any more than we do
the ocean’s.