What I like about this poem is the sense that we are destined to meet one another. I remember the first time I saw Ruth. It was like coming home.
The Only Empty Place
by Richard Lehnert
Arriving late to a party
I had almost not been asked to
and being no longer young
almost had not joined
seated by hosts I barely knew
at their table's only empty place
poured a red glass
passed a white plate
there was a moment when
the talking did not stop when
in some sourceless breeze
the candles did not blink when
no sudden thrill of portent
spidered up my spine when
nothing had happened or
felt about to happen when the woman to my left
turned her face to me and introduced herself as you
In that moment fifty years
reworked their puzzled order
every one now all along
had led me slant to you
and as I gave you my name
another voice I had never heard
though it was my voice
sang to me small and clear
And this is what she looks like
I love this! And I loved it more when I thought it was written about friendship and not necessarily about romance. And this is what she looks like, I said to myself as I met each and every one of you.
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