I passed you in the parking lot

of the big-box store

as you walked closer

Depth-gauge transforming 

as you came close enough to touch

pale skin, piercing, faded tattoo

blue outline of a bird

etched between shoulder blades

And the adjectives I use in my head change with each step

Young, thin, pretty become

Fragile, luminous

The mortal turned into the eternal,

vessel or spirit 

Poured out light

over us all.