if I were born
another place –
and never heard your name
or memorized the music
of your voice
would the night arrive
unnoticed
as wings above the pines
would I leave my prayers
for coming back
behind

if I were loved
some other way –
and stayed my will to know
of lessons almost ended
by my days
would lips be sealed
and not for one –
remembered as a kiss
buried with the memory
of refrain

if I were here
some other day –
familiar comprehension
as words to scatter
ashes to the wind
the failsafe of forever
eternity begins
within a dream
another fragile death

folded to a locket
buried with my sins –
reminders fall
around me
in the dark
verses haunt the pages
wherein another waits
held against a name
I dare not say

. . .