Chapter Two

Written January 5, 2010

You smile.
And I, I am—

Open-mouthed,
stunned to silence,
forget why we’re here.

Close my book
to open another:
eager to start
a new
chapter.

But not yet—
the first book
has yet to shut fully.
And I wouldn’t
put you in between.

Can’t start reading ahead
before the first volume ends.

It’s over now.

My smile
is what I wish
I marked the place
in between.

And a shared smile
is what I wish to see
when the sequel begins.