I am safe here,

With your inked hands tracing up and down my spine
And my cheek tucked against your neck,
The fan above us undulating in dark space
A whoosh, whoosh repeating
With each breath you take and

The music lightly plays and plays.

You tap the drumlines against my
Shoulder blades
And hum softly
With your face against my face

And I am safe.

And you tell me
“There are not enough words
To say
How much I love you,”
And it is like my heart falls right
Through my skin
And I say I love you
Again and again and
Again.

I curl up and let you hold me like a precious gem

And until the unseen end

We are safe.

It is only time that will betray
And only time that can wrench you away
And even then I will fight each dying day

And like your seeking hands along my spine
Under blankets streaked by a
Distant moonlight,
I will seek you across the river to the other side
And hold your spirit

Safe

In that

Forever night.