for vanessa

Vanessa is demanding that I write her a poem, but since I am not yet willing to share (inflict) that much of myself in the virtual world, I'm going to channel Christina Rossetti. Cheap, I know.

So, my dear friend, a love poem-- out of context-- but appropriate nonetheless.

I wish I could remember the first day,
First hour, first moment of your meeting me;
If bright or dim the season, it might be
Summer or winter for aught I can say.
So unrecorded did it slip away,
So blind was I to see and to foresee,
So dull to mark the budding of my tree
That would not blossom yet for many a May.
If only I could recollect it! Such
A day of days! I let it come and go
As traceless as a thaw of bygone snow.
It seemed to mean so little, meant so much!
If only I could recall that touch,
First touch of hand in hand! Did one but know!