As in the beginning and end of your life

together; your introductory

love—the baptism

that left you scared,

still leaves you scared

one or the other won’t stay.

As in an excuse that closes

on a convincing rift,

the preamble of goodbye.

As in knowing how what you do

makes the other one feel awful.

Then back to the start as in, of course,

how you met; smoke

in a crowded room,

the smell of dust in the air,

no motive beyond your initial contact

and how almost at once

you had to turn back from desire

for the various stars that accompanied

that still-bright but vanishing sun.