emptiness and cold water

“how cold is the water”

she said

my answer, far

contrabassoon over

empty harbor

days glazed in

bourbon haze

temperatures rise

fall, bitter, sweet

tides bring

arctic currents here.

she knows the way

lingers too long,

longingly staring

into smokey sea

at me, mirrors

clouded sun grazing

upon surface

it is the shadows

she fears, darkening

“how cold is the water”

she asks, shallow

breath taken

just before

chill will bend

what you know

frozen, we

all take our turns.

deep is this hurt

burns something fierce

frigid, space

I can no answer

her tears slip

onto the dust

of aeons

“cry I say, cry

scream into the wind

leave here

never return

run, run

let your heart

warm, I love

you”

only she hears

contrabassoon

across an inlet

in emptiness.

 

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image courtesy of Pinterest, photography by Johnny Abegg, model Jara