Our River

Floating in this slower river
Clothed in its cool, swirling fabric
Blocking the too-hot fire drops
Streaming from the dry sun above

Drifting without a direction
Our arms around each other’s back
Keeping us from moving apart
Even slowly in the current

The cool dark of the bridge above
Moves over us and eyes open
To the blue-black calm surrounding
To the brittle fire-licked pillars

Arms as fluid as the water
Pulling closer in the dim light
Fingertips as subtle as well
In their eddying and soft flow

Lips as surf bubbles colliding
Gentle yet deeply explosive
Breaking to breathe for a moment
Then reforming more rapidly

Emerging back into the heat
Too soon to maintain the new robes
Both cooled and heated by water
Together melting into shade