Armour or Amour
for Nevis Pratt

i.
how unpleasantly we wrestled

wanting to be so close
wanting to be air-tight

she insisting upon a gap between us
a wall of air

an arm about the waist
each extend an arm, hand-in-hand

regretting our not being
pressed together
forgot about electricity
of holding hands

palms as bare as bellies are

regarded what she offered
as hardly more than a handshake

wanted to be near her
to be nearer

wanted to get next to her

instead, between us,
The Great Wall of China

ii.
nothing's wrong
with being delicate

water's delicate
but it can drown you

air is also
look what happens though
when you're no longer
able to breathe

what is wrong with delicate
with an arm, with an embrace


© Obediah Michael Smith, 2008
9:30 p.m. 12.07.08