And like olive
or fruit or
some other garnish 
that remains reminding
of what was
the warmth’s warm 
now too cooling 
leaving behind ache
heart and head
even the bottom 
reminds me of 
the hope of 
once ordered awaited 
cool crisp intoxication 

It fades quickly 
this dream us 
replaced by the 
real us as
we were once 
when that shutters
quick as camera 
my mind moves
to the emptiness 
where once something 
else took refuge 
and it too
now long gone 

The morning quiet
some DeBussy percolating 
as coffee brews
in cool silence 
water flows in
sink ice drops 
in freezer and 
the wind whispers 
behind gauzy curtains 
bringing this lazy
summer dawn inside 
with humid fresh
standing next you 
one hand on
back one holding 
cup both waiting 
please for attention 
a pout a 
pour a mix
and a kiss 

The orb reflects 
off window sending
bold orange bouncing
off walls and 
linens landing and 
leaving brightness and 
shadows painting us
with fingers as 
we dip and 
swirl in same 
spreading sun about 
like two children 
dabbing in watercolors
making either art
or a mess

What love really 
means when given 
is not the 
present oh no 
for that’s happened 
but the future 
for love is 
itself the fabric 
you and others 
whom you choose 
to forever love 
are lint or 
patch or thread 
changing you forever 
for good or 
bad or other