I used to follow your spinal column
like there were stilts to keep you
from falling into the waves that
kissed your toes like you were king.
at times, i could taste your thoughts
through the nerves, textures like
gravel and rough barriers.
they never came down for me,
but sometimes, every once in a while,
you let my body creep into the
community offerings.
to you, it was a step forward,
but i saw it as a diagonal diversion
to keep me quiet.
and quiet i would be.
but know that you'll never get even
the desert queen with your dry wells
that used to hold love and ancient
history of how the waves once
knocked you over. how once,
you thought of me as

beautiful.