It's finally working like
scarlet
like patterns of roses on
rocks.
Like fossils embedded like
stickers
and lizards our own little
            voyeurs

It's finally working like
summer.
like designs of sunsets with
garnet tipped rays-

Like my sandals are
kicked off and
you're in the
garden
and our chipped
china
black
coffee
for
days

I was watching the
Nutcracker,
stage drinking blue
The violins
pizzicato,
pizzicato
the wood sprung floor
breathing with the knock
of ballet shoes

I was watching the
Nutcracker,
sitting in the
mezzanine,
Mezzanine
the red kiss of
cherry wood and
green,
I live in
the mezzanine

I was watching the
Nutcracker,
peering into the
pit,
a small gap in the
stage floor where
I could see your
wrist,
holding your bow,
swaying your
bow,
pushing back and forth making my
carpal tunnel
ache, oh your
bow

I was watching the
Nutcracker
and you were playing
the score
Tchaikovsky
Tchaikovsky
beneath the
stage floor

Count down from 11,
and I'm leaving the
region

I'm heading East
like I'm searching for
freedom

away from the forests
away from the rain
away from the constant
coverage of grey

Count down from 11,
and I'm going with
you

I'm heading East
I'm hoping for something
new

Nearer to deserts
& nearer to heaven
from this moment on it's
countdown from eleven.

I'm washing my hands
beneath the normal-kitchen-
view,
and a bird is sitting on a
wire, I think watch-
ing me too

and I'm slowly scrubbing dishes,
china-chipped from
soft soirées
& eating with my
house coat on,
the winter chill ablaze

I'm thinking of an
empty pan,
to be used then begin again,
I'm lighting the stove and
filling my
*** with
Orange and Cinnamon

I bought a book of
empty sheets
to find
something to
do

and as I filled the creamy
leaves I only thought of
you

I set the kettle, warmed my
hands,
I chose my favorite tea

I turned onto the
last back page and scribbled
"you and me."