Is it 
the nudity 
the intimacy
maybe the 
sexual expression 
just what
is it
that makes 
lovers flee
it can’t 
be love 
for friends 
never go
farther away 
than there
but lovers
they do 

This this is 
what I want 
always have wanted 
my quiet little 
simple little life 
barely anything except 
what I need 
and maybe some 
little bit of 
what I want 
but this little 

I don’t know 
if that’s a
lot or not 
be it snow 
miles or years
for things that 
are always counted 
seem frequently less
than what’s promised 
never to go 
farther than that 

I sat
with fear
what a
cackling hen
taunting teasing 
laughing at 
almost everything 
even the 
unfunny things 
fear left
courage came 
and we
sat quietly 
sipping tea 
nodding and 
saying nothing 
I know 
now who
is welcome 
here again 

Such little 
things these
sips and 
sugar cubes 
bits of 
sweet meant
to signal 
or change 
one or 
maybe two 
making both 
easier to 
warmly enjoy