This admirable delusion: love

You speak of it between sips

and sighs, while I nod along

like a happy fish -- gulp, gulp, gulp

It must be love! Why else would

my head buzz and cheeks flush?

(and since you love me, I know you see:)

I am too sensitive for

your five o'clock shadow

or the sand underfoot

and it hurts me to imagine

(the feel of one long line

of powder, as if I were you dollar bill)

kissing you--

you leave me raw for days.

Callous allergen! no amount of liquid poured

can drown your itch

You drift in and out of

focus. How fitting!

a ghostly dance for my spectral love

(and it must be love, for who but

a lover would treat me so badly)