pretend

When you kiss me

Every now and then

Hold my head in your hands

Look into my eyes

And pretend

You don't just want me for my body

Pretend

It mattered

If your eyes were open

Or closed

Pretend 

That you only saw me

ode to the swedish clouds

You stooped down to greet me
Down by the lake
Silent and still
Like glass

I felt your teasing
Are you really so plump and so happy
So generously whipped
Like fresh butter

Here I've climbed to the top of the world
Practically the North Pole
And what would happen
If I stepped out onto this water-mirror
If I bouldered up that hill over there

Would you actually let me hold you
You marshmallow-puff of beauty
You playful, cotton hug

I would wear you as my dress
All the days after my wedding
The days that get sweeter
And full

the professor's vision

Last night I met God.
She was red.
Like fire.
Like love.
She spread-open her long, soft wings
And called to me like a mother hen.

The earth shook
At the rain of her tears,
And I stood there
Trembling and
Un-sheltered,
For I was not willing...

platonic

How much do I miss you?
When I remember
Not often

I am thinking of our last embrace
How I ran into the station
Ten minutes early
How I lied to cut-short the suffering

Good thing you knew nothing about trains

Good thing I found some sun

Good thing you've picked up the pieces of your shattered dreams

Each one an intricate puzzle

Don't forget

The clouds are dark
Where I used to live
With you

But I don't think of you so much now
Only instinctually
Only to tell you everything

When I remember...

Not often

conversations with God

Every morning your sighs blow to me
Across my pillowcase

Your hand reaches out
Touches my cheek

"Awake with me"
You whisper

With my eyes still closed, I lie
"You are not ready for love"

I say
To silence

What will happen if I open my eyes?

pick me

I saw it hanging there

A ripe sort-of fruit

Suspended in the sunlight

Red and soft and beating...

My heart.

l'uomo dell'autobus

I know the many corners
And closets
And hallways
Of your story
How you wooed your wife
At the lago
Picking strawberries
How you puffed with pleasure
For not one
But two
Handsome sons
All your stories dripped
Of Imperial Pride
That blood
Still alive in your body
You spoke of Dante
And I lied
When I returned
Your book, too foreign for my soul
The first time I saw your knife
I was almost
Almost afraid
But boredom will be put to use
I think I was your equal
There without shelter
There unwelcome
Waiting for salvation from a hard-day's work
Sometimes you looked
With desire
But old desire
Less for me than for you
I know that without you
I felt exposed
To the elements
To the hungry traffic
I know that in your absence
I stood
With Fear
My other, faithful Companion
I know that I clenched my ticket
Soaked of sweat
Hoping to free it
From my shaking hands
And I know that one day I will pass our spot
Maybe you'll be there
Maybe not
But I will see you, chewing grass
Though I won't call to you
I couldn't
Three years
And I never knew your name.