Recognition

Recognition

I stumbled across a recent photo

Of a boy I dated 

When I was seventeen

I would have sworn it was yesterday

But the picture told me

How much older I am

His face had changed so entirely

I didn’t recognize him at all

If he had passed me on the street

And called me by name

I wouldn’t have known him

Even his eyes were different

The fire and spark 

That once lived inside them

Had gone 

Then I saw his hand

A hand that used to touch me 

Tenderly

One that mesmerized me 

When he held a microphone

In his grip

The hand that caressed me softly

With fingers that thrilled

In absolute pleasure

The same hand that once

Raised a fist to me

In anger

But only ever once 

Because once was enough

For me to remember his hand 

When I no longer recognized his face

Words: ©2021LCR
Image: CCO