I love you dearly
even with our hearts hung low
and our thoughts so weary
I love you deeply
through weeping eyes that,
try as they might,
cannot see clearly
time
after
time
I love you fearlessly
in the face of doubt who breaks us,
shakes our souls and holds up our woes,
wakes our fears and leers
from just out of reach
but far too near
I love you endlessly
like the waves love the sea
like fish in the river love swimming up stream
Warmth returns
to the land
to my toes, legs and hands
and to the way we speak, in our ups and downs
Warmth returns to the frozen ground
Warm breezes pass between us
reminding us of all the reasons
to even try
to stay alive
and stay up late to stare at the night sky
Reminding us: it will soon be July!
Nighttime walking
when the cold bites
and the little lights line the streets
like crooked teeth in the night’s wily smile
We walk a while
We wait for feelings that were once erased
We know they can’t be replaced so we chase them
into snowy streets
onto ice sheets where cars don’t dare to drive
We hope to come alive
We walk a while
and try to find our smiles
The trees droop
despite their lack of leaves
Sunbeams reach in between
and find the place where you and me lay
pressed against each other’s cheeks
Birds skip along bronzed branches
making pinecone dancers
Chorus lines that silently swing in time
to the rhythm of the soft twilight
I used to smile wider
but now my smile is tired
These lined eyes used to be kind
I used to be fine
Your heart used to be mine
My heart used to be blind and
I had the kind of mind that goes out with the tide
Seer-suckered and wide eyed
Clear head waiting to be fried
Light heart waiting to be denied
All my blossoms waiting to be dried
Now they’re hanging inside
leaving piles
of petals
of times gone by
Hang your hat on the head of my bed
and slide under covers thick and feathered
Wrap as much of you around as much of me
and come and meet me in my sleep
My heart knows where to find yours
along the lines of these western shores
Beneath arms of a tree
twisting hard toward the sea
On a sandy beach
old water underneath
Fresh waves soak sand down to clams, rocks and weeds
Beside shifting seas, eager to tease
with rippling swells that dance at your feet
In a salty breeze with sandy knees
and woolen arms for holding me
Under cap pulled low against gust and gale
In the heart of a land made of tales of whales
and seafaring men with their dinghies and dories
who made it their duty to bring us sea stories
Crabs scurry, but worry little
as the sun goes down
on this sailors town
The gulls keep watch on the empty streets
and my lips find the lips they’ve been longing to meet
My eyes made out your familiar frame
through the mist and haze of the thickening rain
I called out your name and my voice made its way
through the drops
to your ears
and put a smile on your face
We walked down the street with our jackets unzipped
thinking nothing could beat how we look when we’re wet
like we’re covered in sweat
Stopping to tease under soaked cedar tree
she sprinkled our heads encouragingly
And again on a corner with diverse company
Reds, yellows, purples and greens
Every color of leaf you could name
We made it a game, then went on our way
The burnished blue railing – a balancing beam!
You swore I would slip
so held tight to my hips and
I couldn’t resist proving your guess
by toppling over and into your chest
On that day I had no other way
than the words you will find at the end of this page
to give thanks for an outing so blissfully gay
Bless this wet weather
and bless all the people
who hide in their houses
who cower from showers
and give us this city today!
Elsa Curtis | I like to write 