I know the drumbeat
and rush
of my body
all too well
heart speaking
electric hands
utter joy
anticipation
and, as always, dread
of collapsing
this feeling never ends well.

I am no longer
afraid of you.

I will probably hold them
all inside of me
forever.

waking up
among the painted antelope
and the wildebeests
streaming up the hillside
and the gnarled knees
of an ostrich
and the glassy yellow eyes
of a lion
is something
we should all experience.

thank you
for bringing me
up and out
once in a while.
you remind me
that laughter
is innate
in us all.

my
world
has become
soaked
in you
somehow.

the chocolate settles into the pan
the cold settles into the chocolate
the peanut butter settles into the cold
the chocolate settles into the peanut butter
it all settles into my mouth