Cross-legged by the pond
where the world is quiet
enough to hear the caterpillars,
newly hatched,
munching leaves overhead.

I want to look inside you-
To see your mixture
of love and anger,
untangle
the deception residing there.

Your musky scent lingers
in my mind like rays of light;
I lean forward to see my face in the water.
There’s nothing in it
but yours.

No flame reflecting in our eyes.
Every comforting adventure
of skin on skin
will end –
As surely as summer does.