A Stranger at Sunset
the sky was light mandarin
the first time we met
you, a stranger from far away,
my task to welcome you
to our land
for just a few hours â
you and I
walked to the bus stop
you with your crisp white shirt
long sleeves,
creaseless
I with a topsy-turvy skirt,
mismatched blouse
checkered,
floral,
yellow, pink, and green â
shy and tongue-tied was I
you spoke on through my silence
your footsteps
confident
upon the cobbled streets
while I stumbled on â
you found a place for us to dine,
a table where the light fell soft
upon your face
for the first time
I looked into your eyes
as you looked into mine â
the dusty red bus brought us back
to the same stop
there we said goodbye
your smile lighted the nightâs darkness
it was then I knew
I would see you again.
D. G. Vachal ÂĐ2025
Image by ELG21 @pixabay
lilies, sparrows and grass 
âĻI love the quiet promise in this lovely prose, a micro mystery of unexpected meaningful connections.
Thank you so much, Susan! I am inspired by your read on these words, as you so beautifully put it: “the quiet promise” and a micro mystery with unexpected meaningful connections.” ð
What a totally romantic poem with the love “zap” at the end! A message of hope!
Thank you, Ellen! I love the way you call the ending a love “zap”. It made me smile.