dark and bright
we dance

anticipation
floating
and nervous

lying on the couch
warm and comfortable
napping and touching skin
a smile on my face
a lovely evening in

sushi and soup
cookies and comfort

can’t think
maybe sleep

under the house
stare out
through the vent
at a lemon tree
with green leaves
and orange lemons
freedom behind wire mesh
but I crawl the other way
to reach it

long legs
maybe naked
blurry under the water
tall fin
maybe shark
blurry in the pool
red clouds
maybe dinner
blurry under the water

an unexpected piece of mail
brightens my day

enter an old house
haunted by all assessments
oh, they’re rattling chains
oh, they’re slamming doors
oh, they’re wailing and moaning
and you feel the chills
but you say, “No scares, thanks.”
and they stop