The Way He Looked at Her

From casual observation, 
anyone could see, 
that the way he looked at her, 
was something different, 
not well hidden. 

Leaning in close, 
following her words, 
even with his eyes, 
smiling, 
eye contact, 
telling a story, 
a heart story, 
a passion play, 
of holding hands, 
and quick smiles, 
hearts beating out of chests, 
and a longing to touch warm skin, 
even for a moment, 
or even to catch the smell of her hair, 
so lovely, 
culred and long, 
to match the images he sees in his dreams. 

He dreams even while awake, 
collecting images, 
precious contact, 
to fuel the fire of his dreams, 
that will come when he sleeps. 

T.S. Deary 
9/16/23