She walked by —

flashing a smile of recognition to

my shadow before leaving that year ago.

No good-byes ever spoken —

she left like a dream ghost

erased by morning sun.

She led me into that forgotten night to

her place by forbidden dark waters

where moss hung from crooked oak trees.

A whippoorwill called from a lofty branch —

snakes slithered silently through tall swamp grass —

gators awaited their fill on the muddy bank below —

a full moon softly beckoned us to begin what had already ended.