my little line

as you throw your head back

with glee

I see ripples of women

who have come before-

both yours and mine

now as small 

as the pupil in your eye

the laugh catches me 

in the stomach

threatening

to send me off the chair

in a giddy and

inelegant swoop

and then I’m saved-

reeled back in

by your magnetic gaze

burning that

dancing wildfire 

deep into my skin

I joke about

jumping off

into the icy black

but the only free-falling

I am scared of

is when you are

near me

and as our

silhouettes cut

against the water

arms around each

other for warmth

and other excuses

you slip off 

your glove silently

my brief confusion

eased the instant

you lay your hand

upon my face

your lips finding

their way to mine

urgently in the dark

later I lie breathlessly

awake

the ghost memory 

of your hand

making my

cheeks burn

finally falling asleep

to dreams full

of those hands-

playing your cello

like your laughter

vibrating across

my body

until dawn