take these words   
these rags of meaning
tattered tears   
                rip and burn them
cast them flaming  
into insane currents            
       dark and swirling

stretch me              
sear me
scorch me                     

         i shake in your wake
tremble in your gaze       
i’m vulnerable
utterly    
infinitely alone       
  when encloaked
by your
feather presence          

     your artist’s hand
your poet’s heart        
in mine    

               the crumpled scraps
and cinders of me            
are bobbing      

tumbling,       sinking

     a butterfly
brushes my brow    
      kisses dry lips
with wing tips                
                    bruises my being
with invisible      
 pulsing touch

petite hummingbird     
does her job
little by little       
      drop by drop
stealing my soul     
on diving dreams            
devine