Red and black flannel robe,
covering and warming,
long legs and body,
tan fading as days get short.

The electric heater hums a tune,
in the mirror, a beauty,
applies unneeded products
to enhance her look.

Wet hair to be blown dry,
pulled up in a ponytail,
exposing her neck to my breath
and small kisses.

She turns and unties the robe,
like a gift unwrapped on Christmas,
from bottom to top I stare,
then our lips meet.

Pierced blackness causing dangerous shadows.
Gauged darkness, holes ripped in it's sheath.
With the flick of a switch, the night retreats.
Lonely highways connect the golden dots against the nothingness.

Security and motion,
a false sense of well being.
Dimmer or brighter,
no matter the shape,
illuminating a path through the sackcloth.

Memories of making love
under bridges in the fall,
our bed of golden leaves,
continuing to blow over us
on the afternoon autumn breeze.

Cinnamon, clove and spice,
was the taste of you,
all morning baking pumpkin pies,
I begged you for a walk.

Dirt road dust,
the sound of the creek,
the splashing sounds as we threw rocks.

I kissed you neck and lips,
as if tasting the divine.

You grabbed my hand and lead me under the bridge.

I counted the freckles in her face
and those proceeded down her neck,
the few remaining faded into her chest,
where the sun rarely shined.

The white linen she was covered with,
a stark contrast to her red hair,
rising slowly up and down,
I lay watching her breathing.

Eyes moving behind eyelids,
caught in the midst of a dream,
I know they are blue,
and I wonder what they see.

The golden sun breaches the window,
a ray directly in her eyes,
a sleepy sigh from her lips,
as she rolls to her other side.

I rise and move,
the coffee brews,
as we begin another day.
together.

If your drinking, cause you're thinking,
about her and her new beau,
just keep pouring shots,
and let the pain all go.

Share a few, I know you can,
with the redhead that walked up,
smile at her and chat a bit,
keep filling up her cup.

The jukebox belts out country,
George Strait sings, take a chance,
as The Chair plays,
ask that gal to dance.

Two step slow, get to know,
what is she here for?
maybe she is thinking too much,
if so back to the bar and pour.

Drown you pain together
Y'all are now not all alone,
realize it's ok,
to move on from what you have known.

If your drinking, cause you're thinking,
about them and their new flow,
just keep pouring shots,
and let the pain all go.

Strutting to the call,
thrumming my own,
turkey spring time dances.

Purple juniper berries,
fall amongst the stones,
squirrels chatter.

Bobwhites call
acorns fall,
mesquite leaves blow in the breeze.

Feral cat patrols,
prickly pear patches,
field mice dart underneath.

Footsteps follow in the dark,
glowing eyes in the flashlight beam,
Bobcat on the prowl.

Striped piglets on dirt roads,
squealing at my sight,
treed by momma.

Tiny titmouse flitting,
landing on bill of my cap,
being still in nature.

I ride upon an eagles back,
feathers whooshing in the wind,
diving toward the mirrored lake,
Yellow talons extended for fish.

Diving deep into the ocean,
down into the abyssal trench,
searching for Architeuthis,
I swim with the blue whale,

From limb to limb swinging,
under emerald green canopy,
my Gibbon host stops for juicy fruit,
rain forest views Tarzan style.

We lie in wait just eyes showing,
among the sawgrass we hide,
Everglades water warmed but the sun,
alligator senses tuned to a deer.

Gliding through the desert sand,
one s curve after another,
following a viper pheremone trails,
suddenly tied in knots as we mate.

White fur on white snow we can not be seen,
large strides and large feet, only tracks left,
Himalayan winds whip climbers hi viz jackets,
we watch, and walk by, a movement on peripheral vision.

Gasping, I awaken in a pool of sweat,
tent fly slowly ***** in the breeze,
red glowing embers smoke nearby,
I go back to sleep.