Afterglow (Poetry)

He strayed into my dreams one night —
rode in on some nostalgic thought
and stood before me — young and bold
as though my prize was all he sought

Shocked by my sudden raw delight
a girlish voice rose to my lips
in welcoming that face I knew
and had for years so sorely missed

In word and body naked then
we viewed each other — tried to heal
the rift our youthful folly blamed
on all that Love failed to reveal

of tolerance that comes with age
of patience, too, and compromise
that modified once high ideals
the world has since cut down to size

We were imperfect then as now
too inexperienced and vain
to cherish faults for beauty’s rare
without a hint of flaw or stain

Those stolen moments to reflect
on passion kindled long ago
hung thin as smoke on autumn air
and cooling soft with afterglow