The sun, stars and moon I would boast
acquaintance with, obscure
astrological lore, mythological
creatures before this
most enchanting sight.


His tight, curly hair, such brown
brown eyes, pale
skin flecked with youthful stubble.
In his pupils passion
flared when he mentioned
sestinas, form
and the structures of poetic music.


He can play my lyre any time!
Later, wistful, he spoke of his people, Southern
Baptists, harsh,
unrelenting, the Texas sun.
I admired much his constancy,
idealism, honesty when he confessed, at twenty-
two, his innocence of women.


The pain of outgrowing inheritance
perplexed him I saw, how the world
gets complicated when you step into books.
I met myself at nineteen again,
no way as bewitching and dear.