In the darkness
I felt your gentle hand
touch my cheek
as if assuring yourself
of my reality.
I kiss your fingers
And press my lips
to your palm,
and in the darkness
I can see your smile.
I love you
when you rise
in the morning,
and untangle yourself
from my arms and the bedclothes,
your tousled hair
falling into your sleepy eyes,
and you stretch and yawn,
and, lighting a cigarette,
pad across the cold tile floor
on bare feet into the bathroom.
The rush of water
from the faucets
opens my eyes,
and I roll over
on still-warm sheets
where you and I
were one all night,
and I close my eyes
to dream a little longer.
I saw your image
reflected in the still water...
and I stretched out my hand
to touch your cheek...
only to touch water.
Legs entwined.
That's how I think of us
when you are not
in loving's distance,
and all I have of you
are memories.
So many nights
were we legs entwined
and some nights
even hearts entwined.
Heedless,
we plunge headlong
into the fiery stream of desire.
Then,
our passions singed,
we withdraw,
and bathe our blistered souls
in cool disdain.
The night is passing by
And still I cannot sleep.
I close my eyes to try
But something wants to keep
Me from the soothing balm
Of enveloping rest!
I feel a sense of calm
But cannot mount the crest
Of sleep, enduring sleep,
Reducer of all pain!
I toss, I turn, I weep,
And then begin again...
You leave
and I feel no regret,
just relief
at no longer
having to pretend.
You fade in my memory,
like some ancient
yellowed photograph
on which the creases
have muddied the faces
and time
erased the expressions.
Perhaps
those people were smiling
when the obliging camera
froze them into permanence,
I can no longer twll.
Perhaps once
you smiled also.
Do you know
I could look at you,
naked,
for hours.
Your perfection
fascinates me.
There is no single
turn of flesh,
no line or muscle
that does not blend
in perfect symmetry.
You are the very god
from whose image
man was cast.