Downstairs, Outside

A click of flint and flash of flame to light

Your eyes set dark and wide, reflecting stars

And passing cars.

Your cigarette burns bright,

A dancing ember at your mouth, red of Mars.

Glowing hot at touch of flame, life begun

And death begun. I watch the paisley smoke

Curl up in ribbons to an absent sun.

Behind your lips that loveless kiss, awoke

By silent discourse of our lungs and hearts,

A wavering remonstrance forms as to

Why bodies cold as ours should be apart.

So I betray the space between us two,

Place palm to palm, our ten fingers off-set

And take another drag of my cigarette.