You’ve thought this adventure was worthless.

Let me tell you about
the heartsick lioness I’ve seen
lurking around corners,
her gut held tight and coiled

ready to spring forth.

I’ve been in the grooves of your headsick
arbor. Your drowsy hands
spinning gold and paper,
delicate moth wing,
cyprus blue heart, pleasing
the eye-mouth-palm,

a skimming quick, stilted
casualty. Apex curve of your
force to my cheek,
rush of fleeting beat,

soft and unkempt night-crier.

In front of you lungs tilt and
brains bubble. A presence
in waves, the slap-thud-skid
of your hopscotch heart

pushing ours to do the same.