Remember

There is something very subtle about the way you close your eyes. When you blink you set off fireworks, flashing brightly through the skies. I want to see you laughing while the sun is going down. I want to see you filled with life, for lack of a better noun. I want to touch your eyelids as you softly drift asleep. The feeling of your silky skin, that smile that shows your teeth. I want to feel you fully as one feels the setting sun. I want to be your angel, I want to be your only one. But soon the time will come and then we’ll have to go to sleep. No longer will I see your face, or feel your love as deep. For soon will come the time when we will have to drift apart. Your eyes, your smile, your laughing lips, give an ache to my lonely heart. For as close as we have gotten now, soon we must be as far. It aches, it stings, it sets a flame, this painful little scar. But once we’ve been as far as death, we’ll long to say ‘I do’. White and lace and shining rings, two voices, ‘I love you’. So don’t you fret and don’t you frown, my love, there’ll be relief. And such will our be our bliss that this pain will seem but brief. Come kiss me and we’ll set apart, go along our separate ways. Remember I will long for you, all my nights and all my days. If you forget me not, my love, I’ll not forget you too. But if you toss me away, my love, my life, I’ll remember you. I’ll see you in my dreams, and then again when I close my eyes. Your face will haunt me silently until, to heaven, I’ll rise. So love me truly and love me full, my darling you are my world. I’ve seen it in the way I smile since your affection was unfurled. Now let’s embrace one final time until that rosy morn. I’ll think about you day and night, until I am reborn. I’ll touch your lips to mine, my love, one last and loving time. Remember very fully: I am yours and you are mine.

Skin

We were in a prayer group, sweaty palms touching clammy fingers. Hushed words about someone’s granny linger. I subtly open my eyes to look ’round at the circle and see how everyone’s skin is flushed, embarrassed, they all want to go free. Free to some coffee shop to reminisce about the awkwardness of it all, drinking pumpkin spice lattes and thinking of Fall. Then comes the memory of that prayer group night, a rush of panic, anxious eyes flit about, the mind tries to say, ‘It’s alright‘. Your skin gets hot, red, nervous, as you remember touching all those people again. They touched you, too, you remember not without a small bit of pain. What if they were repulsed, you think, at the way your skin sweated and turned a light shade of pink? No, no, you console yourself, we’re all human, you know, we all have hands, sweat, skin and all of our nervousness shows. But no matter how hard you want your reason to win, you can’t forget the small horror of skin touching skin.