lovers

The Arrival


the approval has been granted,
the lift of the travel ban,
the ticket longed for is now in hand

three days scheduled
in glorious summer heat
with a lover’s heart in waiting

greeted at the airport
a loving embrace
and staring deep into each other’s face
before a long evening at an outdoor cafe

between smiles exchanged
we smooth out spaces
between places that haven’t
been touched in years

a lean in, a whisper
and a sudden rush off to the hotel
the night is a dream
flames, sparks flicker
and before we know it
the time has disappeared

daylight returns
breakfast ensues with a spread of delights
the agenda of walking around museums no longer appeals
all that’s needed to be seen
is right here

this is not my own

rip out my insides,
pull out the intestines
from the gut punches bruised,
the heart that heaves
and beats rapidly for thee,
the mind that overthinks
and runs ceaselessly over everything,
pull it all out,
it does nothing for me,
it only runs for you.

my hands were made to hold only you
my arms were made to embrace you
my legs were made to wrap around you
my hips were made to rise and sink
with your every move
my lips were made to kiss only you
my eyes were made to only see you

i, and this body, was made
for you

One More Moondance, My Love

Originally published in Clay Literary’s RAVEN: https://www.clayliterary.com/post/raven-issue-eight-09-06-2020

A cool October evening presented itself in front of us,
the full moon in the sky hovered above, and the tension
between us lent itself to lyrics that resonated to every

following Autumn. ‘Can I just have one more Moondance
with you, my love?’ you sang as we walked arm in arm. It
was our first song, my first song sung to me. And to this

day, the smile, the tone of your voice, the way you
captured me, still sends shivers right through me.
From the first taps of the piano to the trumpet blaring

three-quarters of the way through, it all sends me back
to you. I halt everything to remember your voice, your smile,
to be wrapped in a moment with you once again.

in your flood

one step out the door
one step forward
one step closer
to the flood

one step backwards
one step in reverse
one step away
from drowning

a punch to the gut
and tears streaming,
more than the smiles
more than the ‘i love you’s

and how many more years like this
how much can i take like this

i agreed to ever after
but this now, these lows
i can do without
i barely survive the crash
before the next one arrives

give me time to breathe
give me time to survive
give me time in the clearing
before i drown
in your flood

In Your City

Originally published in Clay Literary’s RAVEN: https://www.clayliterary.com/post/raven-issue-seven-08-30-2020

eyes squeeze shut all at once with
wishes whispered under breaths to be
anywhere else, anywhere cooler than

the constant heatwave of near 100 degrees.
Toes dip into makeshift sandy beaches
along the city’s river while children

play in water fountains next to erected sandcastles.
But here in my city, it’s another monotonous
day. I am wide-eyed making 11:11 wishes to be

with you in your city, your heatwave, along your river,
walking the streets when it’s your midnight.
My sweat drips waiting for you to wipe it away.

I’m waiting for the days where we open windows
to a gentle breeze and kick away the sheets for relief.

Hold On [with audio]

*spoken word*

somewhere deep in the night
we share our sweetest desires
you and i 
holding each other tight

miles and miles far away
confusing night into day
ripping off each other’s clothes
how we long to be so close

yet this is us for now
we’ve got to make it through somehow
for one day soon you’ll see
you’ll be holding me

you and i holding on
lost in another time
we’ll make it through another night
just sit back, enjoy the ride

this is us right now
we’ve got to make it through somehow
one day soon you’ll see
you’ll be holding me

and when that day comes
you’ll walk up to greet me
nothing else will be seen or heard
only our kisses will do the talking

so we’ve got to hold on
because one day, 
one day soon you’ll see
it’s you with me

Going Home

She was on her death bed
It was almost her time to go
She stood
But was told to rest
She saw something she couldn’t resist

No, mom, you need to rest, please.
   I can’t back down. I need to go, you see.
Mom, just wait a minute.
   No, I have to go now.
   I see the way to my sweetheart, John Clark.

And then she was gone.
It was so sudden. I couldn’t explain it.
She was alert just moments before.
And we all knew it was her sweetheart
calling her home.

This poem can be found in Coffee Shop Sessions: Whatever It Takes, Even If It Doesn’t Take available on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1718836554

Perfect Mirrors

I looked for you
to find a perfect mirror
to find myself in you
to find that I was not alone
and you, too were suffering
and needed love that ran deep

The deepest rivers and canyon ridges had nothing on us
deep from our core we raised hot magma
we held the building blocks
we already suffered from the burn
and now we’re ready for the reward

Deconstruction Site

How many times do we take
the leap before we realize
we’ve jumped in too deep

How many times do we stop
to realize we need to
protect our insides

How many times does this heart
have to break; this love,
you too shall take

He was the one healing
the deepest scar,
the wound he created,
only to tear it apart
as he twists the knife
churning everything
inside of me