distilled

i took some classes back in school
about bonds and atomic numbers
because i needed a stamped piece of paper
that plenty of people suppose is important.
i disagree, but still sat
for an hour on occasion
to learn how things fall towards stability,
draw near to each other, and interact.

i forget most of that,
but i could learn it again if i wanted to.
i could get a text message about it
from a girl i used to talk to
for an hour on occasion.

did she hold her breath for ninety three minutes?
pretend to sip from the cup we needed to get a cardboard sleeve for?

she said there was no chemistry,
but if you cut that scene
it spills out air and caffeine.

if she caught a glimmer in my eye,
heard me bend a note or utter accidental truths,
she'd know that chemistry is everything around you,
reverberating to the heartbeat
of the poor soul that has to tell you
how much they're worth getting to know,
softly whispering that they're coffee,
distilled and taken in,
for an hour on occasion