Using a calligraphy pen,

she traced the side of my face

onto crisp paper stock,

mutton chops and tam

stitched in profile.

She shared it

before king oaks

in the UNC courtyard.

 

Journalism camp, a random

choice, but lent

to the surprise, and

a walk and a swim. Calendar

pages turned and we sat

along the Currituck Sound,

our bodies engraving maps

of our explorations

in the damp sand.

 

Our inexperienced hands

roamed one another

and without much

warning, the day breaks

the two of us into

our separate ways,

but distant pictures still

linger, and songs still

remind. Beach prints

remain to echo

our art. Museum galleries

framing the past.

Paul Piatkowski

 

Paul Piatkowski lives in Winston-Salem, North Carolina with his wife, daughter, and corgi. He teaches English at Forsyth Technical Community College. His work has been published in journals like Florida English, A Hudson View, 2River View, Nagautuck River Review, U.S.1 Worksheets, Fast Forward, Sheepshead Review, and Ditch.

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