A) In the rain on Prince Street this evening, I thought I saw someone I'd loved. That is "had loved," in the past tense, as it is all past and no present; but still I felt my heart catch on his image, and pull as I looked closer, at an unknown man, not my once-only, this one far too usual: with a too-loud laugh as I passed him, and an umbrella like everyone else's. But I felt the pain of that pull long after, and the sweetness too: my pleasure, still, at his memory, and my sadness it's all I have.
B) In the rain on Prince Street this evening
I thought I saw someone I'd loved.
That is "had loved," in the past tense,
as it is all past and no present.
But still I felt my heart catch
and pull as I looked closer:
at an unknown man,
not my once-only,
and this one far too usual --
with a too-loud laugh as I passed him
and an umbrella like everyone else's.
But I felt the pain of that pull long after,
and the sweetness too:
my pleasure, still, at his memory,
and my sadness it's all I have.
_____
B) In the rain on Prince Street this evening
I thought I saw someone I'd loved.
That is "had loved," in the past tense,
as it is all past and no present.
But still I felt my heart catch
and pull as I looked closer:
at an unknown man,
not my once-only,
and this one far too usual --
with a too-loud laugh as I passed him
and an umbrella like everyone else's.
But I felt the pain of that pull long after,
and the sweetness too:
my pleasure, still, at his memory,
and my sadness it's all I have.
_____