Ann & Frank

I know this couple, Ann and Frank
They live in silence, never rank
Not in the papers or parades
They hide in shade, not window displays
They came from somewhere out of time
No maps, no clocks, no upward climb
He asked her out in autumn rain
She smiled and said, “Let’s skip the train”
They look like winners from afar
But earned their peace through every scar
She burns like wax in steady light
He breaks like storms but holds her tight
They move through time in quiet code
He sweeps the room like clearing roads
I think she still might disappear
Some loves are brave, but built on fear
They tried running once or twice
But always came back around
They gambled hearts and rolled the dice
But love don’t care for solid ground
It was soft, it wasn’t loud
Made of caffeine, rain, and doubt
Nothing burned, but still it stayed
They just stayed
Said, “We’re doing it at last”
I asked, “Now?”
He said, “We’re doing it”
I asked, “Why?”
He said, “We’re doing it”
I asked, “Now?”
She said, “We’re doing it”
"We're doing it"
I felt excited, almost light
But doubt crept in and gripped me tight
What if the thread begins to tear?
But no — not them, not Ann and Frank
They bend like trees, but never snap
I saw them once — a birthday bash
Ann was laughing through the haze
Frank stood still, completely dazed
They tried running once or twice
But always came back around
They gambled hearts and rolled the dice
But love don’t care for solid ground
It was soft, it wasn’t loud
Made of caffeine, rain, and doubt
Nothing burned, but still it stayed
They just stayed
Said, “We’re doing it at last”
I asked, “Now?”
He said, “We’re doing it”
I asked, “Why?”
He said, “We’re doing it”
I asked, “Now?”
She said, “We’re doing it”
“We’re doing it”
Some love shouts, then disappears
Theirs just hums and doesn’t break
They are fire and ash
A calm mistake
Still holding hands
Like fools, like saints
They tried running once or twice
But always came back around
They gambled hearts and rolled the dice
But love don’t care for solid ground
It was soft, it wasn’t loud
Made of caffeine, rain, and doubt
Nothing burned, but still it stayed
They just stayed
Said, “We’re doing it at last”
I asked, “Now?”
He said, “We’re doing it”
He said, “We’re doing it”
He said, “We’re doing it”
I asked, “Now?”
She said, “We’re doing it”
I asked, “Why?”
She said, “We’re doing it”
Now when I see them
I see tides that can’t be stopped
Not perfect
But steady
Like dusk
Like breath
Like war
Like peace