Breathtaker

unknowingly
herself


to be capable of splitting atoms

          [of unrelinquished hearts]

of striking chords

          [of graveyard whispers]

of swimming endlessly

          [of setting suns]


Breathtaker

veiledly
herself


in imitation smiles

          [in huntress stripes]

in doe-eyed brilliance

          [in one thousand yards]

in cocktail laughter

          [in autumnal sighs]


Breathtaker

suffocating
us all

I won’t use your nicknames or

shorten your name in the slightest



I want to savor every letter

every syllable of honey

rolling off my tongue



let the mouthful of sound

rattle my teeth

until they ring in adoration



make it my own exhalation

so every breath

has a worthy purpose



speak it only in whispers

to keep what is yours

mine.

A warm somebody

softly next to me

to remind me I’m awake

before I fall asleep.