The west
is midnight
blue like
mascara
and the east
has begun
to bleed blue
like blue gills
we used to catch
off the pier
in northern
Wisconsin
sunlight
like icycles
began to fall
on the comforter
beneath where you
slept the sunlight
danced on your
eyelashes
making them
twinkle
the slivers
of light
caused your eyes
to open slowly
still bathed
in sleep

turning to me
you opened your
eyes
and looked
at me

weren’t you
here when I
fell asleep
you asked

yes
I replied

all
night

The sun
set behind
clouds like
puffs of smoke
from a coal
burning
locomotive
we sat
on the sofa
the last
of twilight
bathed
your arms
and torso
like gold
powder

The west
was dark
still
lights
from Waikiki
dotted
buildings
like fireflies
the east
began to lighten
like the frosted
hair of women
the sun glistened
in your dark
hair like tinsel
on a Christmas
tree
stirring
you rolled
next to me
your body
pressing itself
against me
like a napkin
absorbing
a spill
I felt
your heat
your breathy
whispers
of good morning
and other
mewing
soon
you were
atop me
and the lights
to the west
and the sun
to the east
were behind
us

The skies
above my house
are dotted
with clouds
like steam
that billows
from electrical
plants
they shade
the sun which
is already
warm like kitchen
mitts
houses sit
like soldiers
beneath my house
on the ridge
the road
bends like a moving
snake slithering
down to the stop
light

Your shoulder
a cap of skin
like velveteen
in cinnamon
protects
the snake like
tendons
which run
down your
arms
like rivers

your waist
an amalgamation
of muscles
sits square
at your middle
like armor

your flank
which flexes
by my touch
is like the haunch
of a stallion