estranged in body, not in mind

catching a glimpse of your smile is

just as rare as

sighting albatross in the woods.

i wonder when it changed,

because it used to be that we could

share smiles abound together,

like flipping over a rock and knowing even before you do that

a salamander lives there.

i never look for albatross. i spend too much time looking for salamanders,

probably because it's

easier to find them and

i would rather try my hand

at success in the woods than

risk my own failure at searching

for something that's no longer realistic between us.

if i ever see an albatross in the woods,

I'll let you know. it would mean

the world to me

because it might also be

the first sign that

redeeming

things between us isn't so far-fetched then,

and just maybe

it might come with

seeing your smile again.

i really hope it's "if" and not "when."

best of luck to you, my friend.

may you find trust.

all i ask is you show me a sign that

you're ok and just

let me know that your smile is no longer an unlucky

omen but rather

a symbol of good luck

and fortune (for all days ahead).

no rest for the wicked,

no rest for the dead,

no rest for a sailor with no land ahead

and no rest for me, either,

with dread in each step that carries me

deeper into the woods

where i will remain,

and keep my own head

down to the earth

at no loss of my pride

except wond'ring and hoping for albatross smiles.