Encounters happen
in specific time,
like our perceptions.
but they can grow with us,
fluid not fixed
as imprints.
details are literal,
and associations aren’t.
you say Saint Francis
and I think convent
curfew
near missed trains
prayer intervals
silent hikes
hills
stone
chimes.
perhaps they’ll think
sunflowers
foot traffic
visions
hands tracing octaves
changed scenery.
maybe they’ll note
changes in clothing
and located figures
in illustrations
and transformation
even late in life.
and maybe we’ll think
blessings
widened self image
permission to change
transformation
especially
early
in this life.
maybe we’ll exchange
perception
for encounter,
dreams not dreamed
alone
or from nothing.
it’s amazing what
seeds were
in the ground
wondering if we
could let them
become.