I went to bed with a Ghost tonight,
he slid in by my side--
all gentle-like,
all lovely hands,
that held me, long and tight.

I went to sleep with a Ghost tonight,
I lay here in his arms--
a wisp of a kiss,
a loving caress--
his touch so warm and right.

I fell in love with a Ghost tonight-
he says nothing at all-
just holds me close,
my lovely Ghost,
and wards away the sky.

I left my Ghost alone tonight,
away from his touch.
He leaves me, too-
at dawn, too soon.
Alone, I face this petty light.

a hug from you
is just text on screen.
an online "thing"
how many do you
give?

it is devastating
I should know this by now
depressing, even, to speak
to a man.

because he flatters you
and makes your heart beat--
thmpthump, thmpthump
--until it beats for only him.

but sometimes, I think,
he only likes me when he is drunk,
or perhaps he is just very shy sober,
but he is still amazing.

even so, I am left alone at the
post office, with letters
that are filled with hearts
that all returned
unopened.

It is not
fear
that grips me
when we are so high in the sky,

above the clouds,

yet beneath the sun,
where people are molecules,
and buildings are
ants.

There are countless words I can use,
        my darling,
        an infinite number,
to describe my adoration for you,
        but none are adequate.

I would build up a mountain for you,
        my darling,
        using only dirt and a spoon,
and I would tear it down again,
        if only you asked.

I would fight for your freedom to choose,
        my darling,
        if you so desired,
and I would create countries in your name,
        just say it is so.

I would create new words for you,
        my darling,
        for none truly can describe my love,
and you are so worthy of new and beautiful things,
        only wish it so.

I would write encyclopaedias for you,
        my darling,
        containing pages of my admiration,
and my devotion toward you, to tell the world,
        simply order me.

I would create an altar at which to worship you,
        my darling,
        made of gold and ivory and dazzling gems,
you are worth all expenses, worth all my faith,
        just deem it be.

You do not even realize it,
        my darling,
        but you are so perfect,
so utterly gorgeous in action, so kind and gracious,
        but so small
                in confidence.

If only, my darling,
        if only you could love yourself
the way that I do, so utterly and completely;
        just say the words, my darling,
                and I will follow you.

I let my dog out back and watch him
because it’s cold out and I’m
not wearing a shirt
my arms are crossed and I watch
as he disappears in the inky blackness
and I turn to the sky


Mintaka Alnilam Alnitak
eyes drawn to Sirius
and back
to Betelgeuse and Bellatrix
Rigel Saiph
The Pleiades, and
I like to pretend I can find
Procyon


My ******* and my hands press closer
to the glass, and it is freezing
yet my eyes are locked on the left of
Orion,
at a star I don’t know
nearly blinding with its luminosity
a planet, but one I do not know
and it thrills me


This is how planets are discovered
I think
anomalies in the sky that
make man wonder
it is bright and beautiful and my face is
against the window
my breath fogs the glass
yet still I see the nameless Star—
and I open the door, to bring myself
closer, to war the cold
in hopes that being near will
fill me with knowledge and that
elusory star will tell me its name


And my dog, invisible in the night,
jumps back from the door and looks
reproachfully at me
and I stare at that gorgeous sky
and my naked skin is already shivering
and my arms cross against my chest
as I turn and go back
inside,
staring at the Pleiades and Orion,
and that white-hot star
once more.