Love Poems for My Friends

Stars flicker in a flash and hope to ricochet off milky feathers, thoughtfully placed, on the swan on the lake Her beak is flush like petals And pucker in something sprightly But the sounds are not pretty bells, They too, hold a universe within them

Her wings, set gentle, in motion Ripples of endearment They bounce and refract, And replenish in waves Of their compassion, And warmly, one and the same The swan on the lake Embodies all of her name!

In that frigid air that bites at your skin, The spark of the lighter, Bright and warm Melts into finger-tips

Under the hardened earthen rock, Forged, even in pressure, unbroken The hot, vibrant magma Bellowing and firm Will make itself seen

Filtered through the curtains, Rising past the night The soft, solar greeting Constant and true Is exactly what you need

Until Hot oil jumps off the iron Sizzling laughs, buzzing And the water in the vat Boils, and bubbles with glee the minutes move longer in wait for this

And while Warm skin kneads dough Knowing caress into the counter Softens under palms Like the sauce gets thicker Thyme in the air lingers slower