Communion at Water's Edge

Pre-dawn’s grey burden lapped at breast and knee,

As stroke on stroke I parted glassy deep,

To wash the burden-webs of sorrow free,

Where silent swells—that voyeur—my bare body keeps.

Then limbs grew light, as floating upon sleep,

I let the cool flood enter where heat hides,

Your fingers—wave on wave—caressed, discreet,

I flipped; twin peaks welcomed dawn’s crisp air, gasped, unbound.

On shore, new sun caressed my dripping skin,

When sudden grace—a butterfly, sapphire-dipped surprise—

Alighted, trembling, sipping lake’s sweetness in,

Where lake meets pulse—a moment’s nectar prize.

Then wings, whisper-thin, traced my temple’s hymn—

Hope warmed in gold; all old sorrows forever dim