iridescence

it passed through my mind only briefly
like an oil stain on water:
shimmery, elusive, hardly detectable

on that perfect summer day-
perfect setting sun
perfect soft breeze playing with our hair

it was there, though, wasn't it,
the goodbye, even in that perfect moment
somehow we both knew what we could not put
into words
i knew, although
i didn't think it would come so soon

the parting, i mean
the leaving behind
it had been such a good summer

boats in the harbour
leaking fuel into the bay
rainbows swirling together
then drifting away
side by side 
we dipped our toes

and pondered
these things that are, these things that were
these things that never will be 
again