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splinterswerve
Calgary & Victoria, Canada
splinterswerve.hotmail.com

by Shannon MacKinnon

Spicy scent, fire and air

Ignites a long burning ember

Of red hot ash

Of trailing smoke

Which I blow your way…

Caressing you with the lightness and mystery that is our connection

Recalling my presence to the down upon your skin

Knowing that while you are still unsure of me

It visits in my stead

A phantom sent ahead

Over the callous of feet and toes worn

The expense of new poems born

Hours spent walking beside rivers that rush and flow

And know

They are not the sea

To the solid strength of your legs

That carry you forward after each loss

Of conception

Of perception

Of trust

To the dark triangle

Where guarded pleasure resides

Imbibing its fill

Surpassing the will

Allowing touch to preside

The smoke travels onward

Up to soft belly

Square shoulders

Small breasts

The clinging smoke circles once

Twice

Enough to entice

The neck to stretch

And offer itself

Jugular

Rhythmic just below the surface

The surf throwing itself against the shore

Its path begets the ear

And it lingers here

Singing psalms until your breath quickens

And gives in

To what it doesn’t matter now

Leaving desire awoken

Yet not spoken

Through lips

Tongue

Urgency

Breath

The ember falls away

Leaving marks