when i outstretch my arms to you
from this finger, right out                                      




                   ­                                             here







                   to this finger
                      right out







here






and i say
“this is how much i love you”
i mean to say
“look at all this space i’m taking up —
this is the only space i’ll ever be able to take up, in fact.
just look at it. this 1.7 meter radius which
perceives — envelops — all this life
inside of it.
big warm house
me with my arms stretched out, saying:
from here — to here —
big warm house with all this fire in it.
big warm house with all this light in it,
big door open wide to let more in.
everything i ever touch
everything i make
everything i read, love, devour
each peach plum and pear
each kiss
forehead ones
big strawberry picnic ones
little dog snout ones
ones i do without lips at all:
looking at you
in your cool
orange shade magic
making me fizzy, for example.
little red cheek from crying, from kissing, from blushing
little duck swimming in
soda water.
all of that
all of this
fits within this 1.7 meter hug
and with it
from this finger
to this finger
i mean to say

“hello, please come in,
welcome home”