when you first kissed me
all starlight and fireflies,
crackling embers, trembling hands
our lips found each other and
coyotes howled in perfect time

for so long I thought that meant something about fate, about us

no..

the magic was just me
I am the one who grew up in that forest nurtured by the trees, running barefoot through the sun streaks

sitting quiet as the birds sang circled around me;
cradling hurt, that soft broken creature and sipping rain from the jewelweed

that power was my electric need wild in my veins, in the roots around me and in the wanton caress of breeze in my hair

you were simply
there.