so many years left by the measure of things

though memory and circumstance don’t seem to agree with me.

they only see the distance between who we were

and who we are now. I can’t tell

if you’re smiling or if that’s the wrinkle

in your eye reminding me

of where we’ve been and where we’re still going.

there’s not much of that for us anymore,

we’ve had our fair share of looking ahead,

but you’re still surprised when you find my fingers

in the thicket of your silver threads, grazing on skin

now deliciously peppered with time.