That Summer Afternoon
from Twelve Love Poems
Petaluma, 2001
THAT SUMMER AFTERNOON
held us tenderly in its arms
like we held each other—
fleecy clouds dimming the sun now and then
to cool our burning kisses,
to shade our dazzled eyes—
and soft breezes slowing our hands
for deeper measure of each other
as the day gently surrendered
to the embrace of
empty dark