First Meeting Poem by Virgilio Ponciano A. Ocaya

First Meeting

A summer's day
oh so many summers
on a ship rocking
gently at sea

where the sun
millions of miles away
its soft breath free
upon your arms wrapping gently

coaxing wisps of dew
as a lover would
to a kiss reply
capturing surrendering

You ponder your move in a caro-cann
across the board a boy of six
enfant terrible
and the ship's captain

with the impeccable airs
a gentleman gracious
in victories and finding
ways to lose
to nest a genius evolving
my memory fades
who is playing who

Then an image
a smile forms
diffidently, yet care-free
a query she throws my way
as a pearl I would have grabbed at
were no one else to see
a fool out of me

not saying my name yet familiarly
in a friendly way
my tongue tied to the mast
as exquisite beauty
steps past

freezing time
freeing space
as you see
as clear as day
under the noonday sun

no one comes close...
no one precious...
no treasure...
no more than life itself
nothing comes close
... to you in 'caftan' blue