Passing Love

to the man on the street corner
staring up at me in the coffee shop window
who waved and smiled when our eyes met
thank you for witnessing me.

to the young man on the subway
running down the aisle,
watching me as your car passed,
thank you for seeing me.

to the old woman in the elevator
who touched my face
looked into my eyes saying, "Ipayo" (beautiful)
thank you for talking to my soul.

to Mr. Chung who unbidden,
took my hand lovingly saying
"You are a good girl."
thank you for quieting the voice
that told me otherwise.

to the young man I passed on the street,
looking back at me as I looked back at you,
thank you for walking on
leaving the moment there on the sidewalk.

to the man who listened to me
share poetry written with
the fragments of my heart
thank you for seeing the beauty in it.

to the boy who declared himself king
and me his queen,
chasing back and forth
best friends
thank you for love untarnished
forever young.

to the man who chose to marry me
chose to learn and grow with me
chose to persevere and love with me
thank you for showing me what it is like
to have love that stays.