You Dance

Your chin tilts as your body sinks into itself. Your arms fall to your sides as your knees bend and your chest lifts. You face me with your open palms and your taut back and your turned out knees. My voice raises your arms above your head. My touch opens your legs. One knee straightens as the other bends. I am inside you. Your body balances under me and over me. I push you. You turn into me.

An extended breath. I am behind you. Your back bends, and I am holding your waist, tracing your arm’s extension. Your breath catches as I lift you. You will not move away from me. You cannot. Lightly, harshly, sensually: your body pulses against me.

A painting exists by the colors on the canvas. You exist by the lilt of me.

“To My Dear and Loving Husband”

As I write a test on poetry for my high school students, I find this poem for my husband, who cleaned the kitchen for me last night when I went to bed early with a sinus infection. He then woke me up at 4am, so I could finish my prep-work for school.

Here’s a poem (that even rhymes!) for you, my love.

“To My Dear and Loving Husband” by Anne Bradstreet
If ever two were one, then surely we.
If ever man were loved by wife, then thee;
If ever wife was happy in a man,
Compare with me, ye women, if you can.
I prize thy love more than whole mines of gold.
Or all the riches that the East doth hold.
My love is such that rivers cannot quench,
Nor aught but love from thee give recompense.
Thy love is such I can no way repay;
The heavens reward thee manifold, I pray.
Then while we live, in love let’s so persever,
That when we live, no more we may live ever.

Daniel and me at West Side Story… which he lovingly endured with enthusiasm, eventhough it was my kind of musical–sad ending and lots of dancing!

My Heart

It tics and echoes
It rises, makes the bed, showers, goes to work
It calls, writes, texts,
It drinks black coffee and beer
It loves lasagna and cream cheese brownies
It sings along to “The Big Five” 90’s rock
It shakes its head to the beat of rap
It has a name and drives a car
It makes me cry
It makes me cry “pause!” in a giggling match
It brushes my hair
It wraps around me
It tics and echoes
And breathes,
“I love you”