The Last Saturday Night Of August

I can hear voices through the window, floating on the summer night. Words flitting like gypsy moths between the trees, words drifting through the leaves, words creeping across the moss and the warm rough concrete like hungry caterpillars. "Take my hand." "I love you." "I'm so sorry." "Goodbye." "What a loser!" "I miss him!" Words praying, clinging, slicing like a razor blade, words wishing so hard to be picked up and hugged. Words used like a kiss, words used like a hangman's rope....

And Emily is sitting cross legged on the bed, Skunk curled up in her lap. She's wearing a long white skirt and a white tank top, her feet are bare and there's a silver Om on a black cord around her smooth soft neck. Her hair is hanging loose, tumbling down her breast like auburn smoke. She's taken her glasses off, her eyes are so heartbreaking in the candle light. No yesterday, no tomorrow, just this moment, as my hand reaches out toward hers....

I'm so glad we don't need words.

Sunday Night Rainstorm

The rain is shimmering, rattling across the oak leaves, sluicing down the gutter while the thunder strikes like the back beat played on an Arabian drum. Emily stands at the window, lights out, watching it through the open blinds. "Wow Jim, I made it here just in time!", she laughs. I'm sitting on the bed, watching her watch the storm. She's wearing a black t shirt spangled with silver stars, denim skirt, knee sox and bright pink Chucks and she looks completely adorable. Of course she's totally dry, weather doesn't seem to have any effect on her. Nothing dampens her spirits.

I walk over to the window and stand behind her, my hands on her shoulders, and kiss the top of her head as we both look out at the summer rain. She leans back against me and looks up, and I see the lightning bolts reflected in her tortoise shell glasses. One look in those eyes is all it takes to completely melt me.

"Autumn's coming Jim, and I can't wait. It's my favorite time of year." "Mine too honey, it always was, but even more after I met you on an October evening." She turns around to face me, and wraps her arms around me, hugs me tight. I put my hand under her chin, tip her face up to look at me, and her smile is the best gift I could ever hope for.... I am so blessed!

Thank You For An August Night

Your long satin skirt is glittering with moonlight and rain, sparkling and flashing as you twirl, your boot heels clacking like castanets on the hot sidewalk til you fall into my arms laughing. And I catch you and bend you back like Clark Gable in Gone With The Wind and kiss you under the street light's indifferent smile. The air shimmers with steam and hope, and I can taste the sweat on your lips.

Back at home I can see the candle light reflected in your deep brown eyes, while you sit on the bed and so achingly slowly pull down the zippers on your boots. You toss them into the corner like an old lover's phone number, and stand on the bed dancing to Tift Merritt on the stereo, your feet in black fishnets making waves and tide pools in my dragon bedspread. Leap into my arms baby, I'll always catch y0u.

And now you're sleeping, your shoulder slowly rising and falling as you breathe in your dreams, dressed in one of my t shirts for a night gown, your hair spread in a quiet black prayer across the pillow. I'll lie down with you in a minute, and hold you til it's time for you to leave....