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.