Strangers on separate islands, safe, isolated.
                               Our eyes meet, dart away
                      Like tiny, terrified fish on a shallow shore.
                             And then we keep on walking.
                          Why do we never stop or say, "Hello?"
                         What do we have to lose, alone on our
                                    uncharted islands?

                              You might say, "I like you,"
                                 I might say, "Me too."
                        A weather-torn ship might pass between us
                      Piled hight with age-crusted hidden treasures,
                        Or soggy messages in messy handwriting in
                          Old bottles sealed with red candlewax.
                          You would laugh aloud as you read them,
                             Sometimes you'd cry, or maybe you
                             wouldn't know what to say at all,
                                    So you would say
                                         Nothing.

                          I might hoist a tattered flag one day,
                             a violent-red passion color and
                                  it would make you smile
                             because you'd know it was for you.

                           One day,
                               One day you would be distant on your island,
                                                                and I on mine.

                         We stare across the void of rippling water.
                          You shout something at me and I know it's
                                          IMPORTANT
                        But the wind tears it from your lips jealously.
                             You can't stand to stand so far away
                              So you throw yourself in the water,
                               My fearful cry stained with sand
                                      And salty tears.

                             Ocean-soaked you crawl onto my shore,
                                  My shore so empty and grey
                         Now filled with marvelous flags of woven color
                               And messages too loud for old paper.
                          The nights are filled with blazing firelight,
                            Darkness like laughter and warm embraces.

                                     We break eye contact.

                           The briefest of moments passes, an eternity,
                                Unwound, undone, never even begun.
                                           You and I,
                                          We walk away.
                                       You do not know me
                                     And never bother to ask.