Rendezvous With Yuliya

It began earlier for you - Packing our clothes in light we could not share We began this journey that spans the globe by half, Great circles that must eventually cross, Bringing together two disparate arcs. This is a journey of faith - Faith in the validity of friendship (And the hope of something more) , Faith in feelings fueled by what we read In letters where prose stumbles in the dark And even poetry misses the mark. (What vision might surprise if your breath should close my eyes, What message would you hear if my lips should brush your ear?) Was I asleep when you began? It is likely I will sleep again before you, My travels ended (you are so young) - Still I do not envy you your flame. And yet, what joy to wake and find you with me, The warmth of your hand Like a stone thrown in the pond of my being. Is it an omen that we both began at night And journey toward this bright day of rendezvous From different directions? For now, however, in the darkness of our flight, We are both held aloft by invisible wings (As if we rest in God's outstretched hands) . Let us pray that it is so! Brian Johnston For Yuliya Verbitskaya, February 1990