~ the length of a spine

there was a time

I was afraid of the dark
afraid to measure empty angles

of a January afternoon
when winter slept in the stillness

of my hands
the way its cold blue pause

burnt my fingers
as if I'd touched the sun


& there was a time

I used my heart to cover my face
when the wind bruised cheekbones

in shades of merlot
swept my hair away

like crumbs from a new year’s toast


it was midnight

when I first held his eyes

as color fell from the sky
& a shallow breath of a breeze

fluttered on my lips


it was 12:38 when I touched 
the fabric of a low-slung cashmere moon
ran hands over the curve of its smile
heard the moans of morning stars

from a melody of bed sheets
& the fragrance of musk escaping between thighs

I was naked in the dark


& I was not afraid












lah  1.11.12 ©®