the tunnel
and when I awake I can barely remember seeing you
bike through the ribbed tunnel that late spring day
that early afternoon, a mouthful of Zin apiece
full of Sunday flowers, lemon and violet
bristle cones, oaks, blackberry brambles
the black river through the thicket
the pasture where a white horse stood
and back in the pillow I sink till my eyes
close around the cream smoothed on your shoulders
the curl of your shorts round your thighs
the scar on your calf a map to where I want you
left hem hiked a nail’s breadth above the right
your breath a gasp as new thoughts bubble
burst and ring, redraw the spring with renewed resonance
and within me I feel your sparks catch
on what draws you here, my tender, healing soul
my much-mocked skull, my writing pen engaged
to slice a hole in this dream, to reach you, woman
to hold your hand, to hear your cycle
zoom past butterweed, to inhale lavender
to widen the crack you make in my shell
and in autumn I may have you, twirled like caramel
apples, brown fritter lumps, cherry strudel al a mode
along river, bay, or ocean, in Hawaii
why it all makes sense suddenly
but I hate this sentence of passion drained by acquiescent placidity
this wait as precipitant time inevitably drips down
the port-a-potty of lost opportunity
oh I know the winter will be worth it
I’ve laid up stores of gold and chocolate in the Sierras
in the Desolation Wilderness
and I’ll show you when comes the snow how we’ll set a blaze
but now we have spring’s leap to summer
and today my fingers need to bind your life like stiches
and tonight my hands should trace your lips to nourish you
I know you’re caught, I know you’d rather
a spring, a summer, were seasons of choice
not fated moments malingering in the arms of a broken god
so I wait in my bed and relive the vestige of your laughter
the frame of your hair, your visored cap
the stars on your ears, your fearless purpose
in that song you sing, in that song you sing with me
and this is just how you are: beautiful as a dream
the moment you awake, svelte and musical
open, naked as a warm day in May
a shiver of joy in the arms of one who loves you
a snuggle-child drawn up to your breast
asleep in my arms, my breath, your breath, your life
summoned by my adhan, God is great, God is great, God is great, rejoice