Hiking to Kaliuwa‘a in the Late Afternoon

That day
We hiked silently through a forest
Of ripe mountain apples and torch ginger,
The sun ruthless in a cobalt sky.
But up ahead friendly clouds
Nuzzled against the mountain.

We had only kissed once. You
Said you weren’t sure. You
Were waiting for a sign. You
Asked me to be patient. Later,

We rested in cool shadow at the edge of a quiet pool.
You sank a stone into my reflection,
Testing the depths.
I sat still
While my image wavered,
Until the ripples calmed themselves for you
And the surface was as smooth and still as hope.