I write this 
now not then
for the then
this will be 
will be this 
no more so 
this I want 
to keep when
then I won’t 
because I know 
that then this 
will be that
and that this
will be gone 
so please remember 
that this was 
and that this 
was then too

Of all 
of the 
prairie flowers 
you touched 
you picked 
me not 
for bouquet 
but plant 
just outside 
your bedroom 
to see
and smell 
first and 
last thing 
before you 
see or
saw more

It starts
this day
as quietly 
as night
has ended
one bleeds
into next
this time 
it goes 
this time 
it tenderly 
goes between 
us shared
filled with 
talk laughter 
and sleep
just like 
day into 
the night 
and night 
into day 

I like us
the us us
the way that
we are and
what we have 
we’ve both had 
others good bad
and otherwise but 
us just us
is better than 
all those combined 
give me you 
and you can 
always have me 

It’s interesting this 
now that you’ve 
pointed it out 
that I lick
my lips right 
before taking a
sip of coffee 
like I do 
right before I 
too kiss you 
and you’re right 
I was wrong 
to blame you 
for my chapped 
lips because you 
are so kissable 
but you have 
to share some 
of the blame 
with the coffee