Reasons for Whatever 

Light a candle       it

      turns black under  you. 

The wax bubbles and

      amalgamates and

      boils through the flame to the air 

to prick tiny holes in your nose

                        rub your eyes

eat your chills

            rub your eyes. 

Exhale the smoke  it

      bounces off me  off the wall

            leaves my profile

                  on the wall 

outlined

     clearly outlined

      clearly on the paint. 

Squeeze my hand it

      doubles

            in size it

grows to hold you

                              carry you

            like I’m King Kong

      chasing beauty up skyscrapers and into

                                            the sky

against a barrage of airplanes, guns ablaze. 

And I’m not afraid of guns

            anymore   since you

      and isn’t it strange?  That as we whirligig

            groove  and       jive

that I should “dearest” this and “darling” that 

and write love notes

      on tree bark about the time you licked my arm? 

Hold me.  No more smoke signals, please

Hold me.  

Hold me.  If you don’t now  I’ll break

                        break into a shattered clay vase.

                  If you don’t later I’ll abandon

                        abandon civilization and leave

                             leave to join a gang of New York City street dogs and meerkats.

Touch my chest  it

      turns black.

Touch my neck  it

      turns black.

Touch my face  it

      turns black.

I touch you  we

      turn black.