BALLOON

© 1999 Clinton Cyril Somerton

A helium balloon
escaped
rising higher and
smaller in
the sky
the wild-eye
sun blinking light and shade on the vanishing
speck winking
out of sight
leaving me

Your body pulls me down
tangled arms wiping away dreams
the bland equation of your face
a pebble in the dirt;
I look into your eyes not looking
when all that matters is capturing
a moment
as it blinks away . . .

I remember following your slow stare
in the rainy train window
as it crept into the station
in another country
and the shiver I
exhaled on your damp throat when
we fell into a kiss
without words
without trying

Yes
I want to feel
more than you
more than now
more real
than today
a miracle
searched for all my life
without leaving . . .

I smile, pushing on
mortal and
relentlessly optimistic
as if I had
a choice.

*****