TWICE

Twice her countenance
graced my view

Twice close by we sat
scanning the images we saw

Twice quiet thoughts
their paths did roam

Twice, polite smiles
while we weighed the scales

Twice superficial exchanges
most meaningful to us

Twice we suppressed
our innermost desires

Twice we shook hands
to bid a fond farewell

Twice, only twice,
then she was gone.

Herbert Holzbauer
© March 2001

Midi: "Altewein"