The Answered Question - March 20, 2008

Can't I stay in your arms forever?

(In the drizzling dripping darkness
of this guilt laden rain
that pours down on our
interlaced fingers--intertwined beings--
in our intermittent rendezvous
the gutters are filling and
flooding with the bile of our denial.)

I cannot stay.

(I cannot close my eyes and reside in the sigh of this calm;
in this cooling serenity.
Nor can I embrace the heat in the warmth of our bodies,
the palpitations of my heart--

Clouds block my moon
and its ending too soon.
Like the needle of an antiquated record player
it's skipping the tune.

This rain, my shame--intolerable pain--
from which no one can claim any gain.
Down in the dregs of the drain
my silent silver sentiments sink
to join my flitting hope and flailing faith.)

I can't.