I’m In Love Too
for Tia Clarke

I must take care
must take careful steps

as easy to shake her up
start her up, set her off

as it is to spook a horse
coming upon a rattle snake

up in the air, rider out of saddle
on his ass on the ground

she dumps me similarly
as suddenly
similarly without warning

I must take careful steps
measure everyone, every word
every breath

wish I were able to measure
the breadth between
her breasts and mine

what I wonder, would it take
to eliminate this distance

swiftly, completely
with a light switch
room in darkness

she and I in it,
in birthday suits,

reach for each other
clutching, touching

tender is the night
we surrender


© Obediah Michael Smith, 2009
12:22 a.m. 08.04.09