ODYSSEY

© 1996, 1999 Clinton Cyril Somerton

for Leona

The soft moon gazed
white on your shoulder
in the fragrant rise and fall
of your warm sleep

Theses hushed fingers
quaked beside you
Life surged inside
tasted again
every deafening dream and doubt
longing, fearing
to burst out
pounding
like the sea
in these searching fingers
hushed beside you

Maybe
you could feel
the turmoil held in
fingers
quivering closer
silent in the night
the aching held back
held close
hanging
eternal in dark space
for and hour
inches away

It was all there
in the instant
these mortal fingers finally touched you.