I See Us Walking Poem by For Matilde

We walked under the silence of stars
our fingers warm tendrils around our hearts
earlier, before light was squeezed from the air
I had gazed into her fathomless eyes
her skin pure as marble
her arms raised to the dark lustre of her hair
her body glistening and smooth
fragrant and carnal
the ivory of a wondrous beast
there are moments when we do not understand beauty
when we become fearful that if it is touched it will disappear
that it exists somewhere else
somewhere implacable in its grace and sublime purpose
I dare not close my eyes
I dare not even wonder
what it might feel like to be young and strong again
what are these ancient secrets she carries in her
for I am here now
where the planets are curved
and the time I have limited
in who I am now I feel all that I can
I can love
I can touch the sublime hand of beauty
with fingers that are warmer now than yesterday
even when I wake I am sleeping inside myself
her hair falling over and over like butterflies on my chest
her body a willow over water
arched, her perfumed vapours rise
she bends with the wind and the slow breath of desire
in those black eyes with flecks of blue
it was long ago, this long coat in doorways
like Prousts and the memory too of
the cream and chocolate dress she saved for goodbye
in a hollow between sad trees
I see us walking under the silence of stars
our fingers warm around our hearts