the fire in me
has dimmed
banked
by fear
and heartache

the sparks of optimism and joy
drifting in the night
waiting for fuel
to burn fiercely again

my heart
is a
lion

proud
fierce
regal

sanctuary

quiet
sacred
full of candles
that replaced the torches
I used to carry
for lost loves

ocean

deep
serene
tempestuous
stormy

child

who still can't understand why
love just can't be easy
and life can't be fair

cavern

empty
mysterious
unexplored
for now

that's the paradox of
submission, isn't it?
how can you take
what's already yours?

i exposed myself
opened wide the curtains
showed you my body
my desire
and, accidentally
my heart

Symphony of dreams
Sleep drunk boy whispers to me
Honey sweet moonlight

I love you in the future tense
in the crystal ball sense of the word
in that stupid silly daydream kind of way
I love you in the
"let's start something new; we could get it so right"
"come home to Christmas?"
"how could we do anything else when we fit this well?"
way

maybe this unfurling I feel is the future
or maybe it's my heart
saying
"maybe it's not too good to be true
maybe this time
maybe
maybe
maybe"

but you only had time for right now.