#over summer

Over summer

I met a beautiful man.

He showed me the best places to hide

On an island in the middle of a lake;

A place for amazons and swallows.

(We rowed there.

I fell off my seat.)

  Emerald leaves,

Warm light.

I spilled with laughter,

Loud and bright.

 The bitterness of berries

Caught between the teeth,

Blooms in the mouth

As love did in my chest.

 If you had asked to hold my hand,

I would have let you

He showed me quartz, the magic kind,

The type you strike in the dark

And orange sparks bite your fingertips

(I keep a pair

Together on my dresser.)

 Your quiet smile,

A wondrous thing

When I showed you

What it means to really sing.

 Our own cathedral, made by man,

Quarried rock, carved by hand.

You said my voice was beautiful.

I etched that on my heart.

 If you had asked to play with my hair,

I would have let you

 He showed me his world,

A living, breathing marvel to explore

With his faithful dog at our side.

(Lakes, trees, fungi;

Down on one knee.)

 Summer storm,

Distant thunder.

Stop. Admire the flowers

In humble wonder.

 We came by a cottage along the pass,

They were selling cakes;

Lemon, coffee, chocolate.

Sweet things – as sweet as you.

 If you had asked to hug me,

I would have let you

   I should have spoken to him, said goodbye

But I left my certainty

Halfway up a ghyll somewhere.

(The crystal water took it,

With a promise to return.)

 I saw him,

He saw me.

Reckless desire was

Quashed carefully.

 In the end, all I have left are

These recollections;

His smile, those kind words,

Stolen exchanges and sweet laughter.

 And a burning, burning wish for more.

 If you had asked to kiss me,

(Oh please, ask me)