Mineral Dust

I love you most when I am dreaming.

Rough edges fall away in fog

of the eyes that take their leave

from black reality

and revert to caverns gleaming.

How it glances off your face—

that gem-light, stalagmites

catching light— Oh

how this is your favorite place.

Where the purple plays

across your nose,

cold colors bathed in warm disguise,

You are a masterpiece

to me

when I close my eyes.

But few souls can look without touching,

awe without taking,

love without breaking—

Mineral dust on the soles of my shoes—

It requires care

to keep you

without making

the sheer walls tremble,

the canaries die

(reflections waver in water streaming).

I cannot reclaim you

from my dreams at night,

for when I do

I wake up screaming.