Dear JackieA Poem by Seri ValentinoDear Jackie
I I want to draw a big, solid J and stretch the ends into a thousand branches like blankets, to cocoon you against the cold.
I don’t know how to write"or really think"about love that’s not dripping like tears from cracks in a beating, bleeding heart, turning to stone in my toes screams in my mouth.
I do know: I like the ways your hair swings like a gentle waterfall in the morning. I like the way my head buzzes for your face and taste, your gentle hands on my fidgeting hips, Lips.
I like that if I looked back to right now, I wouldn't say I already knew I'd walk away waiting A fleeting smile plaguing my mind Teasing the daily grind
II You are like a current flowing with something lighter than water more warming and cooling more comforting and exciting sparkling: you would be swimming from the tips of my toes, up through my nose, down the backs of my ears and shoulders, tracing the outlines of my chest forming whirlpools where those buds soar into your wind
you are an undercurrent up to my chest and down again waves crash in the valley below my bellybutton up, it sways, trying to find you. You magnetize my senses pulling with your voice and hands your breath and the smell of your neck and hair.
When you leave my head is an eddy still swirling from flying with your storm
If you were a stream I could play forever in the deep swirls I have found, warming me I want you to stay here, this gorgeous, swirling mass, glittering and changing colors when rays of sunlight bounce off of you. I love how you ripple when the wind blows I love the feel of my hand floating on the surface below, my feet beckoning toes digging into sand and seaweed, nervous and excited for the rocks they find.
III Water ripples and moves as one Though separate currents run through and around each other some are warm some are cold some have traveled through death (the fallen body of a mother deer) some carry coffins: leaves and bug’s wings that have finished flying through this life, done flirting with the spray. Now they rest on your back and travel down, out to sea where all meet.
Some sing of life: they have seen new fish faces hatch from eggs hiding in secret rock beds Some are brand new.
I hope your currents can take my tears in stride with kisses
IV When I found myself here I wanted to stay and look around I started to swim when the sun got hot, and stayed to drink when I was thirsty You started to dance around me, I smiled when our hands clasped.
I want to draw circles with my toes in the mud below To find the rocks hidden under years of silt and clay, fossils telling of you. I want to make friends with the fishes peeking out from narrow stone corridors.
V Your legs are like warm boulders I can climb up to your arms, sturdy branches that bend to hold me so I can look up where leaves blow in the wind and kiss my cheeks and brows and lips.
If you were a tree I would climb your branches and explore your knots, ‘till I fell asleep in a bird’s nest you made me. I would brush your leaves of dust and pick your flowers line your trunk and write your name, so all around would know From birds and bees and bugs below Through a thousand wings your song would ring. © 2015 Seri Valentino |
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Added on January 18, 2015 Last Updated on January 18, 2015 Author
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