i led you onto a train
southbound connolly station
to a village by a sea
quieter than places we're used to
along roads just fitting
narrow buses single file

we bought each other claddagh
rings with pause to see the other
wear theirs first preventing mistake
the rings remained unboxed
silver for me gold for you
a decision deferred and looming

checked into a hotel cheap and small
fulfilling a promise you made
teaching an art unafforded to me
in my youth shit it's easier
to do on yourself in the mirror
but you attempt it anyways
and i love the look

the streets were too dim to find
the pub we were pulled into
with little contest we watched
finding time between songs to hear
your exhale as if you held breath
waiting for the song to end again

we made our way to the beach
dark down narrow stairs
into the ocean's alcove with sand
filling our shoes removed
i entered the water cold
surprising us both i missed
the begging of the irish sea
(name contested) to pull me deep

telling me your last night's dream
for hearing nothing i focused intense
on the gentle movement of your lips
the soft pressure of your breath
passing folds forming symphonies
i inevitably failed to hear
but cherished the sound of

lying back in the sand staring
at nothing you point declaring it
romulan space but i didn't believe
you would know better than i
about a show i'm still watching
for the first time i notice
the lack of space between our ships
colliding endless and beautiful