Light and Shade by Irene Chicqui

Your warmth,

Send pulses humming;

Hastens the flight of decaying memories,

Of a white rose left to wither;

Of an old flame smothered,

mingle with the passing wind

Gathering dust at the corners of a locked away corridor,

Meant to be forgotten;

Now forgotten.



How can I not?

You’re always there,

With bright lips and quiet eyes

That send red flags

To unconsenting cheeks;

Removing knives,

Cleaning stitches,

Already healed.



Your hand next to mine,

I can not breathe without;

Waiting to touch,

But not touching,

Cradles my soul,

Crushes my heart.



But why such hesitation?

mine of exhaustion,

Yours I know not,

We are free.

let definitions be for dictionaries.



Together we dance solo,

Separate steps to the same tune,

Content with the silence

Of hushed pounding pulses,

Beating each other’s names

Nailed burning within guarded chests

To an indulgent stillness.



Such sweet torment

We hum the same melody

But sing a different song

We stand together

Yet apart.