Quest

how do we
extract each other
from sprawling communites
from ever-shifting locations
from convenient
but contrived
meeting methods
 
how do we
drop our defenses
clean our filters
trust fall into optimism
knowing
love
more often than not
leads to hurt
 
how do we
accept each other's faults
surrender
the promised land  
of 'normal'
know
for sure
what's okay
and what really
is not okay
 
how do we get to know
all of each other
get answers
to essential questions
conduct ourselves pragmatically
when we long for
the perpetual
floaty
dream state
of new romance
 
how do we know what we'd be like
day to day
year to year
when dating
-anything short of living together-
keeps the other in a line drawing
we color in ourselves
 
how do we play the mandatory fliriting game
the i can live without you
the seductive
i'm too good for you
the i'm not needy
when we are
and that's okay
but we're conditioned to believe
it's not
 
how do those of us
who were born affectionate and sweet
with emotions close to the surface
dispense
or possibly
recover
just the right amount of that
to show the other
they'd be loved
without appearing
the opposite of cool
 
how do those of us
far past our youth
maintain the excitement
of newness
when it often feels
we've done it all
or that unfulfilled longings
have drowned
in the ocean of time
 
i've got some ideas for that!
 
even after all these years
i'm anything but jaded
we could have an amazing life together
full of discovery and joy
 
but
 
how are we going to find each other
 
and how are we going to recognize
 
that it's us
 
when we do?