When we were lovers

When we were first lovers
love was sparkle without word.
something innate,
an imparted gift

When next we were lovers
love was unrequited
painfully but unconsciously
withheld

When we were lovers
fumbling through our love
we explored how ourselves became
intertwined

While we stopped loving
we steeled ourselves against
love

When we were lovers
together
we forged a new love
and imparted it

Remembering wistfully what it meant
to be in love
when we were lovers