Friends Hiking the Sierra's

As we walked up the canyon trail,
The sun setting in her brown eyes,
She suddenly stopped, then asked me
"Have you ever seen such beautiful skies?"

Quickly turning from the fading sun,
Staring at me in the mountain's shadow,
She said "I need to ask you a question,
The answer I'm sure I already know.

The question isn't why are you and I
Hiking the Sierra's in the twilight.
The question that needs answering,
Is why did you ask me here tonight?

Pondering, I now have another question,
More important to me I suspect.
The real question I need answered
Is why did I so readily accept?

I'm engaged to man two states away,
Just teaching for a year till I wed.
Having met you I don't know what I want.
Damn, I can't get you out of my head!

Well friend don't stand there pretending
That you don't know why we are here.
Please tell me friend what do you think?"
I said "Friend I think we need a beer."

She sighed a smile breaking my heart
Because her smile would soon be gone.
I also knew she wanted to stay
With me untill the desert dawn.

So we shared a beer and a whiskey
Strolling into the waning sunlight.
She said "Please friend give me an answer."
I replied "Friend I will later on tonight."

The stars began to present themselves
Eventually covering the desert sky.
We stared in silence till I noticed
A single tear twinkling in her eye.

"I'll tell you friend why we are here
Hiking the Sierra's late at night.
It's because from the moment we met
I believed in love at first sight.

And I know you feel as I do because
I felt you trembling three feet away
When you saw me standing in your doorway
It was your lying eyes that did betray."

That's the reason, friend, we are here
Hiking at night up in the mountains.
It's not because of the warm gentle breeze.
It's not because we are just friends.

"Friend you're right, what shall we do?"
"Have another beer, walk by starlight
Back to the car, turn on the radio,
And dance until the morning light."

The conversation went silent for a time.
The tears subsided in the coming morn.
Dancing, she looked into my eyes and
I saw only sadness, loss, and forlorn.

With the rising sun in her brown eyes,
The Mojave covered in a cool mist,
A desert breeze brushing her hair,
I glanced forever as we kissed.

Her tears moistened my cheeks,
Trembling like the 1st moment we met.
She said as we left the mountains
"I'll remember this night and never forget

The 1st time I saw you, your smile.
My love who'll forever share my life
In the desert of long ago memories,
Friend I'm sorry I can't be you wife."

I smiled and we kissed one last time.
She smiled as tears fell once again.
Then she gently wiped away my tears
Saying "You are my love, not my friend."