i awake and find myself
at the base of your tree,
entangled, buried,
in your roots.

although i have never tasted you,
i can remember your seeds
and sticky juices on me.
sweet and pungent,
a mingling of the essences
of the poison
that brings vision,
and the antidote
that calms the heartbeat.
a balm for my eyes,
it restores crystal clear reality.

your leaves shade me
from the harsh rays
of the heartless orb,
and your thorns
impale me deeply.

i lie on a bed
of your fallen twigs
blanketed by the dead
and drying leaves
you have forgotten

your vines encircle
and entwine,
smothering me
as i have wanted
for so long

at long last
i can smell the memories
remembered in the perfume
of your iridescent flowers

existence coalesces,
is distilled,
into one warm point
between two souls.

this blood,
who’se viscosity binds
no matter how distant the wounds,
is as fresh as the day the cut was made.

i let it flow onto the ground at your roots,
and smear it on my hands and your branches.
as my flesh fades to white,
your leaves fade to red.

i feel your heart,
beating,
beating.

09/26/2001

Author's Note: {Published in the "Eyrie" literary magazine, Tallahassee Community College, 2002} {Winner, 1st prize for poetry, the "Eyrie" literary magazine, Tallahassee Community College, 2002}

Posted on 09/26/2001
Copyright © 2024 Richard Paez