manuel of la brea

48

a bridge of two fates

I.

I told you once I was a bridge of two fates:
too steep to walk, might weep then fall.
Seeing two people look for a new pool
to swim in kept me awake that day.

With each step closer and closer,
I will never forget how much
they sweated and were nervous
because a lot of trees
were staring, and the scorching heat
of the desert was with us,
ironing out the documents—
we brought a razor edge
to flatten the rocky road,
and we continued to walk,
and we continued to laugh,
and I didn’t pay much attention
until we reached your door.

Those around me simply joined
the lines that appeared in the bright sun.
It felt like a rainbow that came back
with new faces, new places, new phases;
they knocked alone, they tired their steps,
as they took a different path.
I faced the door meant for me—
we met and you swept off my feet.

II.

Two stars spiral toward each other,
with light bursting, generating
a gravitational force.
With light rippling in space-time,
it pulled me into you
and I was restless, even more sweating
because I know it’s you.

I know it’s you, my heart said it’s you,
as it swayed to the music the wind threw,
whispering thoughts of you.

Wait, is that him? My heart said that’s him,
my eyes however could not behold
every detail of his beauty:

a man with curly hair,
dressed in fanciful tale,
and a familiar smooth-shaven face,
older and wiser.
His curls seemed to match
the strand of my curls,
with his air soothed the warmth,
and I trembled at the ocean depth
of his voice kissing my cheeks.

III.

In the multitude of trees,
you showed up,
connecting my fate to yours,
walking the bridge I built,
and now believing that
living isn’t just helping others
but also
a sun touching my skin,
a kind interaction with a stranger,
being in awe of nature (you),
and falling in love again.