Those women longed for the touch of others' lips, and thus invited their kisses.

~*~

unfamiliar ceiling
heart ticking ticking

 ceiling fan clicking – sticky limbs nearly

touching - your ripe mouth open, mine closed

around a word I can’t say - not now

sorry I’m okay – don’t frown, let’s

stay a while. Bare feet fly buzz

lungs rattle stumble – I’m an accident

waiting to happen as I trip and tumble

down the hall, bathroom sink

let me cool my hands and think

alba skin adorned with sweat

mirror fogged up heavy breath

I’m heavy with the weight of waiting

you’re frozen like a photo I’m phoning

your mother telling her

we won’t be making it over today

sorry I’ll say

goodnight to your son

he’ll be okay, hand held against

the light, feeble protection

water eyes, his lips a question

asking me how soon how soon

can we get outta here outta this room

not today, I’ll say – lying down

static touch, skin so thin moist lips 

closed around a word I’ll say

soon, soon, but not today.

~*~