Two people

Two people

Almost

Together

Are they strangers

Do they know the way

Travel the same path?

Perhaps, we all have.

Neither of them speak

Nor look at each other

But many a relationship

Started out that way

Ended much the same.

Man and wife

Barely speaking

Across a table

Staring into space

Establishing contact

Anywhere but there.

Dance without moving

Talk without words.

It is a fine night for walking

The nightingale sings.

He tilts his head

Toward the song

She walks on.

He stops to tie a lace

And she looks back

A pale-moon face

Waiting.

Perhaps she cares

I could ask

From my advantage

A few yards further back,

Joined in separation.

But it is not etiquette

To pry

To find the what,

The when or why.

It is overreaching

Thinking is not revealing

But speaking out loud

Almost certainly is

I remain silent

As do they.

A compact

Unsigned.

We all walk on together

Forever distant

Wordless