a leaf upon still waters

the idea slips from my mouth,
drifts through my fingers,
somewhere vanishes and is gone.
i wake,
struggling to recall this fragile moment of the darkness.
beside me she dreams sweet smiles and tender caresses.
silence is a horror,
and night but a leaf upon still waters.

upon my back i drown in tears and so i roll over gently.
the mattress gives in silence
and takes with a furtive sigh.
the moon peaks through glass curtains
then dashes blushing behind the clouds.
the night’s fury comes on the breath of a gale.

she wakes amid the flood,
rises angelic in the dark,
then hovers momentarily.
beneath her gaze the ice melts
shatters into glass splinters dropping to the floor.
from feathers the scent of cinnamon and apples
breathy restores the garden of tranquility.
night passes as a ship to destinations unknown.

is this love? i cry,
oh my god! is this love?
god is silent, still;
the unseen presence is dark and blind.
she,
in calmness gathers the shattered remains unto her breast.
there,
the child yawns,
and amid gentleness falls asleep.