I speak now of separate lives that had touched but briefly once

Of lovers parted too soon in life to know what might have been

Of hearts that had welded tight in a flash of recognition

And of minds that could never quite forget that splendor

This love, oh it was so pure and simple

It needed neither touch nor kiss, for those had not occurred

It was seen then only in the yearning in their eyes

And in their smiles

And yes, I was one of them, one partner in that love

And I am frightened now to bring it back to mind

Oh, we were so young back then, so incredibly naive

So lacking in the maturity of our thinking that we needed

But now we are both much older

We no longer are naive or immature

And we both see so plainly now what might have started

Had we then but grabbed that golden ring so close at hand

Would it have worked if we had but listened to our hearts

If we had not just started but had boldly walked together

Into so many things unknown to us back then

I think now yes, it might have worked, but we shall never know

But what of now, of here and now, what are we to do

My heart I find, without surprise, is still so tightly welded

It is as though no time has passed and I love you still

And, oh most fearful thought, I think you feel the same

Back then, when we parted, there was no one hurt but us

But the opposite now cannot be true

For if we joined now there are others, whom we love

Who would be hurt, a thing we cannot do

I am so very frightened now of where we are

And I know not what we should do

I find I can consider things that I have never done

I justify actions in my mind I have always though were wrong

None of this, of course, we can discuss together

I cannot trust myself so near to you

And I think you feel the same toward me

Though you might be stronger than I in this, I fear you’re not

There is something to be said for being human

We are what humans are and cannot change that fact

We are not made of iron

We melt in but a candle’s flame of love

But that provides no free pass from obligations

Nor does it remove the scruples by which we guide our lives

Love is not just what bodies do, minds play an even greater role

And so both must justify a course of action, not just one

This game that I have been playing here, this serious game

This is dangerous, white hot, it can sear one’s soul

And not just that

Its heat can burn others nearby standing, partners, children, all

The right thing is to call a halt to all this silly thought

To say good by forever, separate as we have done before

But I am weak

I will end instead this poem and wait to see what happens next