The Girl In The Chuck Taylor All-Stars

Her hair blown free,
  with eyes ablaze

She walked toward me,
  through morning haze

Her steps unmeasured,
  her cutoffs tight

Eyes palest blue,
  the lightest light

Would I speak first,
  would she respond

In ten more seconds,
  her image gone

Our shoulders brush,
  she passes by

My arm goes numb,
  my heart on fire

I had no choice,
  I’d lost control

My breathing stopped,
  I’d play the fool

And looking back,
  all fear defied
  
An all-star waited,
 —her ‘Chucks’ untied

(Villanova Pennsylvania: April, 2017)