i breathe in your smoke, your words
let the fabric settle brushing soft
air up through hair
tangled curls
as you lean into my shoulder
and the projector hums hot
learning:
hearing the pin drop
the wind gallop
the sun roar
searching for the lights
in the trees, in the grass
in the creases of the latticework
where senses fail and
all that’s left is all that is
and words stretched
to taffy
—and us laughing
walking through the neighborhood
in flannels, sweaters
eyes on the prize: the squirrels
on fences, on balconies,
in the trees, their scampers snappy
in the trotting breeze, the
bare bobbing branches all knotted knuckles up
to the blue, blue, blue Denver sky,
sun-kissed in an act of deference
a blessing of ultraviolet honey
still sweet when it reaches us, glows
on skin, on skin
once:
i watched you put my face on
and your hands smelled like dish soap
and my face smelled like woman
the colors bloomed pink purple perfect
radiating light vibrant like
you only see in movies
on the back of cereal boxes
on someone you love—
my own face of all things
making me blush
we share couches, our
fingers dancing on plastic conches,
rolling rubber ‘round octagons, compressing
springs
like the repulsive forces that exist in the
great hollow between any two objects
in this atomized existence.
still i can’t match your pace, falling
four times first over and over
and over, having so much fun
feeling free finding joy in losing
in growth—IN GROWTH!
—
chopping vegetables
mixing batters, chattering
apron on, towel draped
over my shoulder ending
just above my heart
you on the floor in
the nook at the kitchen’s end
quickly swept
black leggings flaxen hair cardigan
telling stories describing
animations, frames, anything you like
i hope it’s comfortable
down there
it’s wonderful
to have you over
dinner’s ready, movie’s ready
the subtitles are synced
enjoy the show!