for the joy of it

for the joy of it
      you fall asleep in my
   arms.

   for the joy of it
      i awake in
   yours.

   this is holy
sleeping.

you are beautiful
   & as your beauty
      changes, my eyes breathe
deeply.

when we walk, our hands
   enfold & when we
      talk our minds find
   ways to
touch.

there are no
   misunderstandings be
      tween us. i am love’s
       disciple & i believe in
you.

i delight in your doings & in your
   not-doings. sharing your smile
      with children, your foot
       prints with the sand, your

   intelligence with your
work.

i crave the sound &
   smell of your
      soul, the
       speech of your
   skin, the way your
      hair enjoys itself on the
       pillow, in the
   sunlight, in the
rain.

angelic though you
   are, my body is glad
      you have a
       body. it is never
   done exploring & mem
      orizing every precious
pore.

it is glorious when human
   bodies kiss. they call this
      making love, but it is

   laughing among the
      stars, being earthly, tasting
forever.

we found each other as
   the maple leaf finds the
      maple tree ...
       through the
   roots. our hugs are purest
gold.

my heart has be
   come your heart &
       hearts need no
   words for how they
beat.

so when death comes,
   it can take
      nothing, for love is
       a blessing, a miracle,
   a story without
end.