I Also Know Poem by RIC BASTASA

i also know
how to stare
to a face
and tell myself
i love it

i learned
how to
just be silent
and savor
a love
unrequited

takes time
take a lot
of silence
and endure
the pain

takes time
to learn
how ecstasy
lingers
even without
touching

to shut up
and close
the womb
of your feelings
there
is no birth
of love
or hate
or whatever

to just look
and wait
and still wait
even
for a long
time
even for eternity
you savor
the lasting
flavor of your
secret longing
the face
that you see
the one
that is meant
never to be
touched