presence

i saw you
in the loneliest moments
of my journey
when time
was just a forgotten myth
and all places dissipated
into nothingness

i saw you
tall and patient
walking through the mist
of fears and doubts
toward me
i was frozen
in the senseless repetition
of my steps which were
invading an untrodden path
with some fading footprints

i saw you
nonchalant and distant
with your eyes fixed firmly
on mine
was it you who first spoke
or was it me?
words didn't have sounds
they had shapes
we watched them
flying
walking
and eventually dying
between us

when the last word
dropped dead
you smiled wryly
and before i could smile back
you turned away
and left

i tried to call you
but i didn't know your name
i called all the names of winds
all the names of stones
all the names of beasts
all the names of flowers
all the names of people
all the names of god
but you didn't answer
i collected all the dead words
and continued my journey

i'm still traveling
up and down the silent slopes
through the weary woods
and along the roaring rivers
each night
i put one of the dead words
in the fire i build in a cozy corner
and watch you
dancing in the flames

you never talk to me
you only dance until
i fall asleep