an empty bottle
resting on an empty table
next to an empty woman

she cannot rise
I rise for her

as a child
I made puffy wishes

whoosh

and you spread
your seeds

beautiful ****

we were peculiar
like a magenta stem on green zinnia
no room for ****** romance
we would not fail to fail

you were persuasive
like an outlaw con man
I was devoted
like a cloistered nun is to Christ

surrounded by the furies
we danced a terrible tango
muddled whispers of lingering lyrics
loving until we burst

like a broken egg
at once a terrible and beautiful thing
we parted, disillusioned and illuminated
an axiomatic answer to the quest

if I were to wander the world
I'd find no one like you
At least I hope not
you were exceptional

it hides in the corners of my brain
like little pieces of sand from the Sahara
smooth, like shiny marble
soft, like afterfeather

it's in the whites of my eye
grainy and dry
irritating giving rise to tears
reminding me of you

I breathe it in
it sticks to my teeth
like peach fuzz
velvety and floccose

it's everywhere now
little trails across my back
gridlocked to my fingers
penetrating my lungs

I am inside the dust storm
that is you

and I cannot get the dust off

giddy giggles
giving me goosebumps

going from green to gossamer
as we fly fantastically

while on wind and wings
worshipping wonders
and gliding giddily

I would be nowhere else
but here with you

I fixate on
your words

luscious lyrics
chanting

candy gumdrops
on my tongue

becoming
ruffled emotions

like teardrops
falling on you
wiped away

gahdugat

letting the music swim over me
remember how we danced
the night was deep and long
seemed like it could last forever

badumcha

your arms around me
felt like I was melting into you
when looked into your emerald eyes
I knew you were my only one

bizzzhaka

I sit and wait for you
that coffee we drank the next morning
I’m having it now
yes, I know it’s late
but I feel close to you
when I taste it
reminds me of your coffee kiss

bahtubaht

I’m not lonely all alone
not when I know I have your love
I can be at peace
just knowing I’ll see you tomorrow

skadeedaht
thinking of you
bideedoodop
your killer love
jiggeddybah
massacred my isolation
skidleebop
jazz always reminds me of you

the winds
blew
subtle
whispers
gently through my window
carrying droplets
of sparkling crystals
to my parched lips

a kiss from
September's rain

it
    sits
            cold
                    alone

between my *******

empty

the picture burned days ago

nothingness

the vacancy
              reminds me

the rigidity
            defines me

the sagacious owl
hooted

hoot
hoot

observed me
omnipotently

and turned
the back of
his head to me

he had seen through me

below the neck
of a sultry sunflower
lies the breast bone
of a goddess
green sword and yellow stone
anticipating your thirst

like the terrible waves
of an angry ocean
forced out of complacency
by an even angrier bright, full moon
my love sits upon the edge of a tall cliff
contemplating flinging itself forward
to the depths of a verdant green valley
populated by purple poppies
and yellow daisies
hoping to land peacefully
in the tender arms of the flowers

she is the blood in my veins
an angel of temptation
full of desire and heat, my ideal maiden

her love is a wave in the ocean
guided by the wind and the moon
full of flutters and flaws, complete perfection

upon white walls
I create my kingdom

a penchant for
coloring outside the lines

palpable pandemonium
endeavoring toward
exquisite insanity

the morning sings sweet lies to me
lovely lyrics on a cool breeze
lashes over me like the tender waters
of a sleepy, sauntering stream
just waking up from a glorious nap
a hint of smokey mist as I walk
it circles me like a child craving attention
changing into patterns of golden plaid
and yellow-brown ribbons
the morning wind whispers love words in my ears
promises of red and gold and of changes to come
but tells me he will keep the green
and I am helpless in this moment of bliss
the perfection of verdant carpet mixed with
the pledge of halcyon days
charming lies of an elven god

the afternoon comes with the fury
of a hundred fiery she-devils
red hot flames streaming from
their titanic gaping mouths
spewing firestorm breaths
that establishes terror
in the weakening grass
baked yellow and melted
the ground below brown and cracked
a mirage plays with me on the sidewalk
my parched tongue longs to taste
its cool fresh sparkling waters
I cannot walk for I cannot breathe
the smell of baking asphalt
fills my nostrils
I am done like the end of days

evening comes like an effervescent angel
sent to save the languid liquid earth
as the purple-orange sun
bone-tire from his busy day spent
torturing the innocent villagers
says his goodnights to the shy Selene
the glowing evening wind howls
Hello Mr. Moon
it spreads through me like full force
hurricane winds since I am empty
from the sun’s relentless torment this day
I drink in the comely dark night
as he says to me that he will stay longer now
he will ease my burning pain
wooing me with his oath that he will
escort me into Autumn’s safe grasp
August is dying and with it Summer’s reign
when August ends we will breathe again

your kiss is like
Easter Sunday
dressed in white eyelet
wearing daisies
sneaking chocolate bunnies
secretly holding hands
during morning service

your kiss is like
fiery icicles
melting my muscles
tingling my toes
flaming my fingertips
leaves my lips burning
aching for more

your kiss is quietude

your kiss is quivering

your kiss is quintessential

exquisite rainbow bouquet
the smell of earth and life
soft petals hold hands in
ruby, pink, and tangerine
yellow and black wings flutter
over the floral heads
hummingbirds dip deep beaks
in colored jewels of pollen
hearty zinnia providing life