Homage to the Beloved
Every time you squeezed
that
liquid muscle tight
and raw
stitch sewn bandaged
light pulsed sweat slid
every hard flesh slap
tooth pierced
and nail nibbled
salt and blood grist
for
the
mill of heart chambers
individual atriums
To the cacophony of eyes
and ears and brains and fingers
lips and tongues and bodies
you have names
I have called you the same
and what you call yourself,
lover.
Every step I have made
where I have passed through
darkness to light
and thought to deed
and midnight debauchery to
cigarette and coffee kisses
and cackling darkness
and quiet escape
from filmy sheets
into hot Texas air
Every time
we have
eyes locked and loaded
and seen one another clearly
through the haze of momentary
thrills and
the digestion of the day
Every time
eternity slaps us like
a bucket of cold water
shivering and waiting for warmth
where self provides
and where we all
wander
eyes closed and sensate
fingers trailing over body parts
in the dark
like jigsaw puzzles
piecing ourselves together
night after night
