She kissed a boy today,
and red birds picked at strawberries in the field.
Soft Summer wind tousled her hair,
as his lips touched hers.
“It is so nice to be wanted, desired”, she thought.
Her heart swelled with an almost forgotten rhythm,
but the swaying of the tall grass sounded like the ocean
and she was free again.
Free to feel again.
She kissed a boy today,
and red birds picked at strawberries in the field.

You wouldn't know what
I was doing after you stopped
texting me that morning
of your surgery.
As soon as you said goodbye
I threw my phone to the wall
and sobbed into my pillow.
I had to stop myself from screaming
out your name, so I just mustered up
stifling sobs and muffled "I love you's"
and "please don't leave me baby".

I could feel stabbing pains make its way
up my body as they put the rods and
screws inside of your spine.
Eleven times my heart combusted
throughout the day and the thought
of you without me almost
killed me.

I wonder what you thought of
under the anesthesia.
Was it me?
Your friends?
The Beatles or Led Zeppelin?
Or maybe it was nothing.

I know that all I could think about
was the worst things possible
and how I wished I could have just
kept you safe in my arms because
thats the safest place you could've been
in that day and time (or any day
and time for that matter).

But, now that your spine is
un-curved and you are okay,
I thought something was
going to change between us.
I was afraid that maybe the thing that
caused you to fall in love with me
was taken out somehow
and rearranged so that
your spine didn't curve towards
me anymore.

I was afraid that you wouldn't have loved me anymore.

But, now I see that I was foolish for being so afraid.
You are better than ever and you are still mine!
And I just love you so much,
you know that, dear?

*I'm just glad you're safe and feeling well, baby.

You walk the Windy with her.
Hands brush, and cheeks blush,
a door is opened, a chair is pulled out.
I'll have what she's having.
Half a glass later, nerves are soothed.
Catch her, watching you.
Quickly look at her and you both realize,
you both want to kiss.
The waiter interrupts,
food is now secondary.
Check please.
You stroll the windy with her,
hand in hand now,
so much is said in silence.
Fingers touching fingers.
My God, please don't let go.
Cue the snow.
You brush the flakes off her face,
"Kiss her, kiss her now"......yelled from a 2nd story window.
People smile as you press your lips to hers.
Her breath carries the sigh that warms your heart.

You walk the Windy with her.


*I have never been to Chicago, maybe someday.........

Waking, pale sun burning away the smoky remnants of my dreams of you.
These memories of delightful daydreams.
I create a universe where your spine is steel and our love is a featherbed in a castle.
Our heat fills the cold stones
as greyhounds and bulldogs share the halls with young boys laughter and the smells of tea and toast.
I know you devour me while I sleep
the same way I consume you while you bathe,
soaking up every fold and freckle,
memorizing every precious contour.
Waking, your pale skin burning away
shadows of the past,
my strong hands rest on
your waiting hips.
The boys and dogs come tumbling into our morning oasis with bony little elbows and bad breath and laughter like heavens manna.
This is my now.
You are my forever.
We are eternal.