Juliette's back
is a shapely cello.
Her hair trailing softly
plays a deep, sad,
mahogany melody.
'La musique malheureuse'
her soul whispers.

But in the morning
she will stretch out,
throw the curtains wide
and light will shine through her.
When she speaks
her harp-like heart
will play a pretty tune.

I could have listened
to her heart
all day long,
but instead

I just lay
with my head
in her lap,
seeing her eyes

looking down,
the dark green
or such
as it was

or seemed,
capturing me
in the two frames.
Her pulse beating

along the nerves
of my skull,
her small *******,
hidden there

somewhere,
smelling of
motherliness
or some such,

sweet to the nose,
but out of touch.
We waited
for the school

recess bell to ring
across the field,
waited uncaring,
wanting else,

but kisses
would have to do,
lips on lips stuff,
breath mixing

with breath,
tongues invading,
mouth to mouth;
hot O boy hot,

she was,
not the weather,
staring down,
eye to eye,

my head
on her thigh,
sensing not far away,
Eve's gateway.

"Do you have a boyfriend?"
A family member would ask
I suppressed a smile thinking of you
"No" I'd reply, my face a mask

"Mommy, why are they holding hands?"
A little girl would want to know
I'd pull my hand away from yours
And manage a timid "Hello"

"You're obviously in love"
A friend of mine took note of my bliss
I finally admit it but changed pronouns
Turning every "her" into a "him"

"I'm bisexual and dating a girl"
I'd tell the mirror 1,000 times
Getting the courage to tell my parents
Then turning around and changing my mind

"Are you ashamed of us?"
She'd ask tears welling in her eyes
"No" I'd hug her close because it was true
I was only ashamed of myself and my disguise

He always told her
He liked the way
The moonlight silhouetted her face
And she always told him
She liked the way
He held the small of her back
When they swayed

And they had a hideaway
Where they always found each other
A park on a lake called Otisco
They'd walk and hardly notice the time
Gone by
And one day
He took a pocket knife
And carved their initials
Into the bark of a dead
Tattooed tree

They came every single day
And even though it belonged
To the community,
They felt it was theirs

And the sun rose and set
As did the moon
And they took time with them
And the soles of their shoes grew old
But this remained their spot
That they would always go
And they both wished they could
Freeze time
And lie on the grass
And memorize each line
On each others face
As they were now

And the wood on that tree
Slowly decayed
And the two lover's hearts grew old
But they were still every bit in love
With this park
With each other

And that girl
Now walks through the park alone
With tears falling down her
Wrinkled face
And she never notices the stares
And that tattooed tree had fallen months ago
She's beginning to forget
The exact lines in that boys face
Or the exact way he held the small
Of her back
And nothing scares her more
So she sits at the bench
She donated to the park
With the plaque that had
Their initials engraved
In dedication to the lovers
Who loved this park
As much as they loved each other
And she longs for the day
They'll walk beside each other again
When she makes it to the Pearly Gates
Until then, she'll just put one foot
In front of the other
Getting older with her shoe's soles
Walking in the echo
Of the love she once had

Sorry
I try to help
I'm a hindrance
It's never right

My tears are nothing
You laugh at me
I want to help
I'm just no good

It all means something
What you say it hurts
Ruins me piece by piece
A fragment of broken glass

When will you see?
What you do
It kills me
It breaks my heart

You're mysterious
An act or gift
You're my conscience
I love you.

reverse

I love you
You're my conscience
An act or a gift
You're mysterious

It breaks my heart
It kills me
What you do
When will you see?

A fragment of broken glass
Ruins me piece by piece
What you say it hurts
It all means something

I'm just no good
I want to help
You laugh at me
My tears are nothing

It's never right
I'm a hindrance
I try to help
Sorry

I've never cared much for tan skin, large assets, and perfect blond hair.
Pale skin and black lips tend more to draw my stare.
Because there is something in the way you wear your darkness.
It makes my breath short and my heart skip.