(Siracusa) (Sicilia 16)

and when sleep was there
she rattled the window and throughout the night
challenged what dream there may have been of peace
instilled fear that the clothes would be gone
and the torrent of sound would keep them awake.

and when Maria Luisa was there
she blew fiercely enough to almost blow her away
she teased aside a notion of control of the moment
and scared the paranoia into him
just as he thought there was a clearance
and it was all a warning before
she could be caught.

and when a paper was there
she started a ballet in the street.
pirouettes and a close tango with the car’s tires
movements of swift focus and control
she made light of their desires to rest
and lifted them to their feet
swirling and twirling and tornadoing for his eyes

and when the rocks were there
she pulled at the clothing and inched away at its removal
she tore out the water from its home
and crashed it without much warning
against them, coating them
before peeling back their new
aqua skins like that freshly
red leather he was now wearing.

and when courage was there
she helped lift him to his feet
and did what she could to minimize greed of this place and
presented him with keys
she showed him not to hide even faults
and shattered preconceived notions of what is right and pure.
she showed him passageways
she’d found on prior adventures
that she knew he’d appreciate.

and when hunger was there
she carried what the senses needed
directly to each corresponding organ/
she pointed briefly with her own preoccupations and filled her essences with all that the nose knows is good.
she knew what pleasures she was
capable of bringing along.

and when I was there
she sang into me sweetly her love.
she knows how much I appreciate her, the way
I look after exposing myself to her wishes
she looks forward to signaling positively to my desires and aspirations
she devours my needs with an intensity of savouring.
she risks isolation just to tell me hello.
she paints the sky with clouds of yonder
and cherishes when I smile at her creations.
she doesn’t judge what I reveal
but carries it forward for me to gain wisdom from.
and when she knows wholeheartedly I’ve had enough,
she departs
mysteriously,
but I know she’ll be back. she always has been and always will.