once upon a time

once upon a time
i knew you well
the curve of your mouth
with a sideways smile
cheeks so high
smiling wide like your eyes
handsome and charming
a gentleman raised right

once upon a time
we were paramours
but destined for goodbye
sharing much across little time
roles we stepped into
we weren’t ready to solidify
i wanted more
because more seemed right

once upon a time
and still, as things lay
you take up space
in my head locked away
eyes, when they’d meet
heart and stomach surrendering
like fireworks exploding
only memories to placate me

like the fairy tale that never became