I am doing my best to keep my head above water,
to survive this flood
of love and lust that seems as inevitable as the sun.

Her breath against my chest is quiet like the tide against the sand,
drawn softly in and out and in again;
its rhythm is enchanting, and sets me to easy dreaming.

We lay together in a room and a moment
too big for just the two of us.
Our hands dance,
and our voices laugh
but our bodies remain still
resting against one another ,
tired from the turkey and the wine.

For this evening we two are settled together in intimacy,
comfortable and cozy, lock and lazy key.
There are, as always, wishes
(kept quiet)
and desires
(untried),
but what we have is enough to fill up the night,
and help me to forget for one evening that I am alone.

AcB 11.23.00