I can't tell you what sends me
falling like rainwater rinse into self
to find the place
that is darkness pressing light
silence pressing sound

it's not as simple as the two of us
or as complicated
as what our love defines
souls have kissed souls and traced
a thousand lines around
the highest heavens long before us

before the ocean ever felt
blue-water ships across her virgin skin
before her grainy silhouette was
chartered onto oak-tanned maps of hide
lovers found lovers, and tenderness
and passion from inside their own
empyrean, reaching to and wishing on
these same bright beauty marks of sky
how many dreams were caught inside
the flames and left behind

we lie, backs against the Earth in an
oatgrass field beside the pond, crickets,
the does
have left their spotted young to
graze a midnight meal of woodlands

we lie, spare dreams falling
they sprinkle down into our arms
low soft cries like doves,
sweet dream cries from stars to
break the icy terrors
to hush your father's eyes of thorns

we smuggle dreams to use
for just this little while,
as I fall into the place
that is you, only you
and I will wrap myself around you,
I will wrap myself around you.

07 feb 01
m madison


empyrean
n 1 a: the highest heaven or heavenly
sphere in ancient and medieval cosmology usually consisting of fire or light. b: the true and ultimate heavenly paradise.