I wanted orange.
Backlit smoke and porch-talk.
A damn site stranger than table.
This is the song I fell in love to.
Swaying a bit, keeping that involuntary rhythm my awkward father taught.
Dances across your fingers, wiggles in your knees.
"I love you... have I ever told you that"
My eyes were distant.
It hurt not to say it back.
"Nah kid. Not once."
She held me. Not quite reaching my neck.
Not quite melting.
I gave a non-commital
beer-holding return.
I had to be honest...
I was thinking about other
slight, fragile vegetarians.
"Well I'm gonna tell you twice."
It dangled waiting to dissapate like the rich
chocolatey smoke, and flowery smell of young woman.
A faint trace of iron and sweat.
"Thank you".
A trace, a guide, a linger.
Seated. Crickets. Napping.
My brother left this place years ago
to the wild urban deserts to the west.
Thing he missed the most
The sound.
The creek, chirp, and chaos of life.
Beautiful, fickle, and some nights still.
I watched her for unbroken eons.
Quiet. Unflinching. Pacified.
Maybe for the first time in her life.
"C'mon kid, let's go to bed".
That sounded a bit more x-rated than I had intended
but it had the desired effect.