I met him on the road like I wanted
but we were walking in opposite directions
We rested and talked a while
That was all
I met him on the road
like I wanted
We were walking in the same direction
but I could see shapes in the distance
and got ahead of him
When I looked back he was gone
After that I walked slowly
I studied the stones in the road
the politicians’ posters
the trees of unpicked olives
the ornamental roses
Yes, I stopped to smell the roses
The roses were thick with longing
I met him on the road like I wanted
We were walking in the same direction
but he talked about shapes in the distance
and got ahead of me
I could have matched his pace
but there were roses on my left
I called his little name
as he went off towards whatever
I met him on the road
like I wanted
We were walking in the same direction
We walked and talked for an hour
We stopped to steal the roses
one for me and one for him
We walked for another hour
comparing petals and thorns
Then I put out my free hand