energizing, stabilizing heat
in earthy eyes;
round, sandy-brown nose, dolphin
in her ocean;
smooth, ripe mouth, delta
surrendering tropical rain :
all his 24 yrs. vulnerable
for a hurricane;
her hands searching lint
nesting in a willow tree
above a chin of grass,
like turning soil
in her mom's garden;
her mist on my shoulders, arms,
torso, stocky for her wiry, tap for ballet,
both clumsy, land for water,
both syllables of laughter :
"h-hi" for "h-hi" :
all, dried butterfly
in small picture frame.