Her
He speaks and I am diminished.
I dig my hand into my ribs
trying to muffle my heart’s entreaty.
Any minute now I will shed my skin,
my turbulent, brittle terror
and set off across the lawn with a quiet resolve.
Him
I undress you every time we meet.
Your electric blue eyes lower in tandem.
I have no reason to define my lust.
From the cabinet you extract two long stem glasses.
The clock reads 2 minutes shy of midnight.
Her
If I were a boat I would take to the sea,
my weight suspended in a skein of watercolors.
My bones remember your weight
and I know that I should refrain.
Why can’t I refrain?
Him
The bend between your hip and waist, the perfect ratio.
Our bodies twine in greeting, the red wig is a nice touch.
Save your words for when you are face down,
pillow underneath your pelvis, body indecent.
There is no space for love in this equation.
Her
Beneath you I am worn stone-smooth.
We dance across the floor,
eggshells shattering beneath our shoes
and you will not speak of sin or shame.
I know exactly what is in store for us,
what becomes of women who live too long in the shade.
Him
The only promise I ever made
was that I would not be amended by you.
I am exactly the man that I said I was.
Could it be that you are someone else entirely?
mindlovemisery 