A hand-in-hand bench sit below

An ocean straining to be heard

Above the distant chatter of the city tease

Soft focus stares into rippled darkness

Restless breath, occasioned sigh

A tree branch twitching

At the insistence of a breeze

A conversation trapped

Clenched in fingers and pressed palms

And arms sparking where they touch

To tender desperate urgencies

A tyrant in the mind

Thought a-spiral, overwhelmed

No answer will this night awake

No succor, no dark guilt appease.

Not in darkness but in light

Not behind or inside; not under

In plain sight

In sighs and smoke

but never indifference

Signs left behind, still warm

Dissipating breath

And scent

like fading color

Holding court in corners and in time

But I’ll refrain from seeking

for the moment

Look you in the eyes and pause the see

Withholding sight so hidden we’ll remain

From each other and the sadness in our game

The tree is up and finely dressed

– ornamented scent of pine

The worst for me around its base

A few temptations ribboned coax

– mute sirens whose gilt lures are gifts

AGH! How dare it shine

I see my name ‘neath blinking lights

– wrapped ad for inducible eyes

It pokes, it prods it tickles palms

I must unseal and secrets gain

– provocateur you torture me!

Why dangle fruit and stir desire

Why hint at love my limerent

– Oh that finish has me licked

Why must I wait!? Why haunt me thus?

Why force the clock to travel slow

– Still days. Still days. And still you grin.

I’ll have you yet infatuant

You’ll see; I’ll struggle through the hours

– And ope’ you last to treasure most.

If fists are what I make

What use bread

If bones are what I break

What use arms

If hatred’s what I hold

What use goods

If souls are what I’ve sold

What use legs

If guns are what I run

What use hearts

If wars are what I’ve won

What use land

If money’s what I till

What use minds

If graves are what I fill

What use pens

If wrongs are what I write

What use me

If what I am is spite

Each sunburst flare shines in your eyes; your
waiting lips will catch the fire

Your body burns, I feel the heat; I
feel your warmth in every breath, in
every beat of heart I hear, in
every taste of flesh on tongue.

Entwined, on air, your skin’s aglow, I
gather strength in every kiss; with
every touch you keep me flying; you
say my name, my body soars

When I’m with you I feel alive, and
so I hope to never land