In Between — Summary

HarborDreamy

Took my spells for a run, on a moonlit night, With the beams reflecting in your eyes; But when the sun came up and it's rays shone forth, I guess the magic faded away, Because you're not here, And you're not mine, And a million ifs stand in between

Show the whole poemHide the poem

Learn Poems app

Try the Learn Poems app

Everything from the website trainer, and more: new exercises, voice recording and sharing, reminders, quick review.

The speaker looks back on a night that felt enchanted. Under the moon, with light shining in someone's eyes, they "took my spells for a run," as if trying out a little magic on a possible romance. The night seems full of promise, and the tone is almost playful.

Then daylight arrives and everything changes. The speaker guesses that the magic "faded away," and the casual "I guess" hides some hurt. The last three lines are short and plain: "you're not here, / And you're not mine." Nothing is explained, which makes the loss feel blunt. The final image of "a million ifs" standing in between suggests all the unanswered questions and missed chances that keep the two people apart.

The mood moves from dreamy to wistful. The moon stands for a glowing, make-believe world, while the sun brings reality. The speaker isn't angry, just left wondering what might have happened, and that quiet longing is what stays with the reader.

Read also

More by Harbor

All poems
SadHarbor

At War with Love

I'm at war with love and all the things it should be, All the standards I lifted from well sprung fairytales and failed to imprint on the maps of life. I've stained my hand with pretty paint and received a gruesome picture, So I've taken to sulking at the mishap,
SadHarbor

Footsteps

I've prepared myself for the pain, The pain I know you'll bring, When your stopwatch stops its ticking, And your bags are neatly stacked;
SadHarbor

Strained

My heart is strained from chasing yours everywhere.