Half Empty Food Bowl Partially Used Litter Box Your Last Day Remains

He loved all seasons, save winter. He lived his life in winter Because he was winter, And he never really loved himself. He buried his heart beneath the snow, Became the barren, dead tree, Accepting a world of numbness.

I loved all seasons, including winter. I lived my life in summer Because I was summer, I was, am, and will be the sun. My heart beat strongly, It was warm, on fire, Embracing a world of passion.

We met and we collided, Creating spring. My sun melted his snow, Uncovered his heart, And after many years He discovered rebirth, renewal.

Our first dance was a tango, Parading on the dew. The smell of fresh grass, Fresh starts and new beginnings. But spring began to end And he awoke from his dream, Begging for winter to come again. Thawing began to sting And he missed home, His many blankets of snow.

I tried to follow my lover. I brought the summer heat along, And he could not find winter. He barked at me, “You cannot play god, You cannot change the seasons.” I explained to him that I did nothing, We changed it, We merged and created spring and fall, The lovely, romantic air.

So he in turn tried his hand, Bringing forth dark clouds. “There will be storms,” He warned me.

First there was rain. It poured down above us And as he ran for shelter I grabbed his hand, Leading him out into the fields And I said, “Let it rain, let it soak us. Let us dance And the rain will cleanse us.”

My lover was afraid. Afraid of what I might see If his skin were washed, His face wet, hiding tears. He created thunder and he warned, “There will be lightning, There will be flooding.” I kissed his cheek and said, “Then I will build us a boat So we can sail to safety.”

But he shook his head, Thinking I did not mean it. I stood in the spring field As he ran off to winter. Still, he looked back at me Not being so far off, And he watched as I stood firm As the water rose above my ankles. “He will surely run,” My lover thought.

The water reached my shoulders. There was nothing I could do, For summer had many rains And fire would only drown. I would surely drown as well, The water rising above my head.

My love, my beautiful love, Saw at last that I was his. His to love or leave, That I would always Be waiting in oceans for him.

His heart felt my summer breeze, Felt my year long devotion, And he, the god of winter, Ended the storms, Ended the rain, And as he stepped upon the water It turned to ice. A vast, frozen lake, He ran across to where I now, Was buried like his heart.

He called to me, “I am winter, You are summer. Bring forth the sun.” And I did. The giant, burning sun Melted the ice around me, Freed us both from fear, And he held my hand As he added more heat to the sun, Evaporating the water, Returning the lake to a field.

When the land had dried He kissed my lips, His frost to my fire, Bringing back the spring, Returning the field to gold. We lay in the shimmering grass. My lover and I, We love all seasons. We built our home in that field And we never again played gods.

The birds have flown South with our love Our passion fruit Fallen from trees Like the autumn leaves

And here we lay in The dark afternoon You are too angry And I am too tired To care that we expired

We turned back clocks Gaining an hour to Linger inside our Wind up toy romance Spinning its last dance

Frost came and bit the earth, Snowflakes fell like feathers. Crystals landed cold upon me, Some were just the weather.

Icicles dripped upon my heart And froze it for forever, I think it beats in winter squalls, Although it's just the weather.

Owl music is playing on low tonight Predators, I think, are soft spoken I whistle back, it's not the right tone Owls don't whistle and I don't hoot They don't pay me any mind Don't acknowledge failed harmony Who are you speaking to? I am asking them via my chirping No fluttering, no rustling The owl music sounds further away Don't stop completely, don't stop Who is out there tonight? Who is calling me? I want to be called Like an owl, quietly and discreetly Invisible yet something to be feared

I slip into my skin Like slipping into A favorite sweater I am the nurturer Inside my own body A home and hearth Tranquil and secure My body is a warmth I am warm here I am so very warm

I can write about love I can write about birds and cats And the movement of water

I can write about solitude About the comfort of silence And have it all mean the same thing

Sometimes I ruin what I'm trying to say by Making use of Too many Words

All lights are fireworks Since we made permanent July. Whether sunshine Or warm showers My rain, my sky, It's a permanent July.

In these darker days Bloom yellow roses I've grown for you In secret gardens. Still I can't explain just why Each new month is still July.

Your earth is warm, It melts my snow, My rocks and stones Make roads for you. Sit with me, watch all pass by, In our private, permanent July.

I will be whatever you need to see in me today, My body a canvas open to interpretation. Here I am soft, delicate as silk; There I am sharp, rugged as stone. I am shifting, gliding, reshaping myself, I am swimming through the waters of my gender, Moving from room to room In this house I am calling my body.

But I am twisting in the hallway, Arms and legs spilling through every door; I am too much at once and so never quite enough. Tell me what you want, I will shape myself to fit. Make me compatible with your desire Until I forget the shape of myself entirely.

(In your rejection I’ve flooded our home, Drowning in the rooms where you once wanted me.)

My impermanent lover Made out of snow I rolled him up Just the way I wanted Lumpy and imperfect

He was quiet and sturdy Such a stoic His embrace was cold And we both knew That this was a fling

A jealous squirrel Came and ate his nose Broke his arms Scrambled his face Kicked off his hat

I sat by my drooping Deformed man of ice For the snow had Been dripping and He refroze so crookedly

One day he fell down His heart melted How dramatic of him To die in a puddle As if it were romantic