Quaking

She laid in his sleepers arms, he was pressed against her from behind
Molded to her form.
It was getting light outside.
Tears were rolling down her face.

As if intuiting, he stirred
Many moments later
A long enough time that her pillow was already wet
in a spreading circle
From the quantity of her weeping.

He took the arm that was draped over her
Just above her heart, and pressed it to her skin there
I want you he said
Breathing
Moving, sweeping it down down down her center
As far as he could reach , then up again,
I need you he said, swelling.

He followed the curve of her neck up,
His whole hand stroked lightly over her face
Yet when it reached her forehead, it backtracked:
Love? My love? Are you crying?? he said.

Love- turn around! Face me! he said.
She rolled over.
He wiped her face with his whole soul, as if to dry it
But the rivers were not to be dammed.

What is wrong? Why do you weep? he said.
I shall not tell you she said
The sky got brighter
I must be inside of you, he said
I must have all of you inside of me, she said
Meaning every uncountable meaning of it.

While he showered she dressed then
Took two red Hibiscus's from the front yard
Inside, she put one on the pillow
And she put one behind her ear
Then she walked out into the now bright day,
The sun having finally crested the mountain.

Wearing a towel skirt, he screamed, as loud as he could
Down the street to her to COME BACK where WAS SHE going she must
RETURN TO HIM
She ran the long distance back at full pace
And flung herself into his arms
As the neighborhood watched them.
His wet hair dripped water on the Hibiscus behind her ear.

I must go to work, he said, from within the sheets.
I'm late as it is, love, he said, stroking her hair back as if
he cherished her more than his own life.
Stay here. Be here when I return. Do not
Do not leave me! he said.

May I write today? Here? On your computer? she said
Yes, he said.
Good, she said. Then we will not be telling a lie.
Today.
she said.

As she had bade him to do, he stopped at her house on the way to work.
He knocked on the door.
It swung open with bravado
His big smiling friend shouted:
My friend! what brings you here?

Your lady asked me to come here, he barely said, lump forming in his throat.
She didn't want you to worry.
She stayed at my place last night,
And she's there working on my computer today. he said.

When will she be home? he said.
Uh, I don't know.... she....
Might stay another night, he said.

If she's not finished yet, he said.

Okalie dokalie! I know she's safe with you! he said
smiling
Of course she is. he said.
I would never let ANYTHING harm her, he barely croaked out, throat constricting.

His big, happy friend
Looked at him.
He gasped, the smile left, he squinted and bent forward to peer into his friends eyes
So as to read his soul, in the old way.

YOU LOVE HER! he screamed

Of course I do, he said.
Who could NOT love that woman?
of yours
he said.

The smile returned
Affectionate slap on the shoulder, accompanied by a knowing chuckle,
You got THAT right, he said.

You take care of her now, he said
I WILL take care of her
he said
Off to work now he said

One said
Goodbye.

The other.

Said goodbye.

Then, they separated,
And night descended on both of them.
Even though the full hot day all around them,
Shown.
Was bright, in it’s OWN reality.

So very many speckled patterns were on the sidewalks!
They were moving, churning,
Because all of the leaves
Underneath the sun,
were quaking!