You did not recognize us

At first sight,
But before long you remembered
Your grandchildren.
Happy to see them
After years apart,
The ends of your worn lips
Ever so slightly peaking up.
A new face introduced:
Aged little more than twelve months
Cradled by ninety seven years
Youth embraced by age.
But me you still did not see,
Nor I you.
Faint memories fighting to surface.
Through sea, land, time.
Then a dock light
In the endless sea of memory,
Something stirred behind those old eyes,
A window to look through cleared.
With trembling hands you reached to me
And gently leaned in with a tired crown,
You pressed your forehead to mine
and I pressed mine to yours.
A forgotten gesture
That reached back into the past
A single moment that bridged time,
And somehow brought you back to me.
The sea of memories poured out in streams,
As hallowed hazel eyes peered into me.
We both understood.
I looked back and could see.