Drift (Would)
Drift (Would)
After the initial sink
into bed,
we float.
Night lightens us
the way a sea hollows wood
to its cells’ shell, splinters smoothed
to palm’s sculpt; each jamb keeled
into the shape of
what looks almost
like a close-winged bird.
We drift, limbs lapping in creases of shine
and murmur, curl away
as tides of warmth
and too much warmth,
and ooh-let-me-get-you-warm and not-
the feet–crest,
retreat–okay
the feet–
curl back–
Day breaks and bark re-sheathes us
like clothes’ pleat, feet too
are replanted, splinters re-mis-aligned,
though we try for a while to extend that soft sail
in swallows of warm
darkness–you take
your coffee
black–and, oh, so strong
is my tea.
*****************************************
This is very much a draft, but it’s tired here on some night in late April, 2015 National Poetry Month. I am linking this to With Real Toads Tuesday Open Platform. Pic is also mine; all rights reserved.
Tags: #napowrimo, April 2015 National Poetry Month, drift would poem, manicddaily, Night lightens us poem, not strangers in the night poem
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ManicDDaily 
April 28, 2015 at 10:25 pm
Ah…this is soothing, it has a haunting, lulling sense – beautiful… 🙂
April 28, 2015 at 10:33 pm
Thanks, Polly!
April 29, 2015 at 7:23 am
Night lightens us
the way a sea hollows wood
Lovely lines! And I find the whole poem very evocative.
April 29, 2015 at 11:16 am
I so adore this poem. Lovely. Comfort to the max!
April 29, 2015 at 11:19 am
I was six lines into this when the sheer word envy gripped me–would have loved to have written those lines about night hollowing us like the sea wood, to a ‘cell’s shell’ they are amazing.The second stanza segued perfectly into the lack of dignity of human life compared to these greater forces, amusing and wry and real, and warming despite any lack of majesty–comparatively speaking, of course–what is more majestic than the generosity of someone who will warm your cold feet with his/her own skin? And the final stanza strikes a shaky balance with all the burdens that still remain. Anyway–you are writing beautifully Karin–tired or not.
April 29, 2015 at 11:33 am
Thanks–I had a whole very different ending in my head when walking back through Central Park last night, but just could not come up with them again, and I had changed the beginning enough they might not fit–thinking of night as boat in bigger sea–may still try to come up with something different, but was/am just tired and could not come up with them in a way that worked. Thanks for kind comment. I have something in mind for today, at last, but don’t know about super short. k.
On Wed, Apr 29, 2015 at 12:19 PM, ManicDDaily wrote:
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April 29, 2015 at 10:03 pm
i’m presently staying at a hotel in the UES, Karin, leaving in the afternoon after a morning at the NHM. To think we may have passed one another today, as I wandered from the Met to the Boat House…
anyways, like Hedge I admire the beginning – laughed at the feet – and went mm mm mm at the close ~
April 29, 2015 at 11:15 pm
Ha–I am staying on the UWS! But walked across the park to work this AM–hope you saw at the Native American show–well so much to see, but I’ve heard that is quite good! Thanks! k.
On Wed, Apr 29, 2015 at 11:03 PM, ManicDDaily wrote:
>
April 29, 2015 at 11:17 pm
no, damnit, I missed that, and only after leaving did I remember. i wanted to see the textiles. it’s such a huge place. but did see the Deccan (India) exhibit, and of course the Egyptian, as well as the Oceania. Cool place ~
April 29, 2015 at 11:19 pm
Yes, it is–the Deccan looks good–I am thinking of Native American as it leaves very soon and very unusual show for the Met–but honestly anything there is great.
April 29, 2015 at 11:17 pm
PS –I am right near the NHM! Ha! But only at night–mainly in midtown all day indoors at my office–awful on such a beautiful day!