this rising smoke
an incantation
under the alignment
of closeness
in this us being
closest to the sun
and the moon
being closest to us
I invoke gravity
to pull us closest
in this a shower
of heavenly bodies
soaring to their fates
I invoke Luvehi
to pull us closest
rising incense calls
through the night
to pull us closest
and hold us tight
your arms slide
underneath mine
from behind
your breath is
heavy on my neck
my heart ticks
with the beat
of prey before
the predator
the beat slowly
melts into your
tidal motion
two beings ebbing
and flowing together
as my neck
arches backwards
and your lips
glide down it
to pool on my
eager shoulder
I surrender
to your will
as you hold me
within your chest
we are lost in
this moment
in each other
how long to savor
that moment
how long to stay
in that moment
the moment we
always return to
a soft word spoken
a glance taken
finger glides across
back of hand
reply and nod
eyes in awe
stuttering lips
disbelief melts
into recognition
and then...
how long to keep
that moment within
how long to wait
for that moment
the moment we
always long for
the cab is dark
as the city lights
race against the glass
your parents still
can't get over what
we just told them
after an almost
two hour dinner
I catch your eyes
as you try to keep
them on the road
that knowing smirk
grows in your lips
and blooms in your voice
"When do you want
to set the date?"
they were abundant today
their obsidian wings
gliding overhead
making me pause and watch
these messengers in flight
I wondered if they had brought
tidings of victory or defeat
as they did to ancient battlefields
under Morrigan's reign
but my hope was for them
to continue their journey
well beyond my place in the tower
over the wide expanse and mountains
on desert winds arriving to you
and lay at your feet
all the polished thoughts
and jagged emotions within
I would give them these
to send to you
and in their eyes a glimpse of I
for you to keep until we meet
what do you see
when you look at the moon
do you see me looking
back at you
while the sun reflects
off its pale cold skin
do you see me there
dancing in your memories
I beckon to your upward glance
to that slight and momentary chance
that I might catch your gaze
in the mirror of the moon
what I wouldn't give for that time
when you trace the vine on my finger
and caress the ruby on my temple
you have done this many times before
in the mirror of the moon
rest now in your sheets and bed
as the stars caress your dream-locked head
and gentle is the kiss of night
upon your soulful eyes
slumber now my searching heart
in the mirror of the moon
standing at this shore
I am lost between the surge
and retreat of the endless waves
each surge injects me with
every passing thought
I've had of you
it pushes each future memory of you
into the depths of my soul
and drowns me in
your voice I've never heard
each retreating wave takes you away
further out to sea from me
pulling at the grasp I've made
for you for all these years
this shore is where
I can turn to take my path
on safe ordinary dirt in solitude
or I can follow the retreating waves
further out to sea
where they've taken you from me
and get drowned in your voice
I will hear some October morning
I fucked up and
I thought I lost you
I revealed all I could
reaching out with bare hand
wanting to leave my name
written in your latte froth
but blatant truth fell mute
and the best I could give
were clues leading to clues
it's the name of the game
we seem to be playing
I was ready to shake the glass
of this clasping claw arcade
though cheating never won
us anything in the past
and all I want is the future
where you can touch my hand
and we don't have to rely
on these voiceless conversations
