He stood on the bank
since sapling days,
watching the river wind,
making homes for feathered guests,
who came, and went,
then came again.
He held secrets for lovers,
initials carved into his bark,
and he learned the ache
that came with love,
and couples came, and went,
and others came again.
He relished the giggles of children,
that tickled his leaves,
when his arms were strong enough
to hold the ties of laughter.
They'd swing out, splash in,
then swing out again.
He saved a life once,
when the waters rose,
crumpling stone, twisting metal.
He caught her in his arms,
wrapping branches around her,
his roots holding firm
in the ground that made him.
Her tears sank into his rings,
and though the raging waters subsided,
her grief remained, deep in his roots,
and he longed for the love and the giggles,
that had come, and been swept away,
to come again,
wishing his arms could have saved
all that the torrent stole

I measure bitter bricks,
shaved from unsweetened slabs,
weighing the impulsive thought
of daring,
to taste the bitterness,
licking the rich dark earth of it,
longing to savor
the treasured ancient world
that grew it.
I temper the desire instead,
melting it into a swirling brunette liquor
enriched by sun-thickened gold.
I mix the crystalized syrup
from nature's canes
into powder made from dried nibs.
Their life has been brutal,
dried, roasted, crushed,
until they turn into
the rarest of brown sapphires,
only to be finely milled
for other's pleasures.
I whisk the whites of *****
until they resemble cirrus cloud,
streaking the sky blue bowl - no longer a clear day.
As if I were born to play mad scientist,
the ink, glitter, and clouds are brought together
with the heart of the harvest,
and just a whisper of expansion.  
I unfurl the silken tapestry
and send her into the hearthen forge.
Waves of rich, decadent warmth roll in,
a fragrant tide filling every crevice,
taunting even the lurking ants.
Time's invisible hand lets go,
and a captured morsel on a boat of silver,
lifts to my lips.
I plunder the symphony of indulgence
on my tongue,
and groan, like a lover,
fully satisfied.

it comes creeping up at night
a feeling that doesn't sit right
I'm afraid I'll be
awake again tonight

i slept in the arms of cities
with no names,
listened to taxis like lullabies
while the moon
pushed its hips against my window.