Love Poem: Avia
David Smalling Avatar
Written by: David Smalling

Avia

I went down the stairs before
The light went out

                       My urge more than a mark
                       The territorial pet sprays
                       The stoic silence of trees
                       I washed my hands
                       And clean of fear
                       Turned to the stair again

I rose each flight
To take the space
Reserved in my class
For those on the edge
Of belonging
And care

                       The darkness bosomed me
                       I yielded
                       To the succulence
                       Of your mouth
                       Waiting in the silence
                       To initiate
                       Surprise
                       Face to face with your planned desire
    
I learned a lot day
At school
For your perfect smile
Had false
Dentures glistening
White
On the darkness of my eyes

                           A first kiss
                           Is a stairway to understanding
                           How we
                           Having climbed no higher
                           Than that moment
                           Remained devoted
                           Until you expired.

Your husband cried not I
I stare at the muted darkness still.