once
i played a song
for a man i loved

i visited his home
years later
he had the sheet music
for the beloved song
open at his keyboard

he told me he loved me
held me long as i was leaving
like he would never see me again
and if memory serves
he didn’t,
i think he didn’t

years later again
i am listening to this wordless song
and hear it in the shape of his voice.

“what
was that album
you played
the first time
we were together?”

is a question
lurking
long ago loves
emerge to ask me
years later

one stopped by
while in town
just to steal
the album
I played for him.