We barely touch anymore

Oh, except to graze a shoulder

With a patronizing hand

Or rub a back where this
Or that little pain sprouts up

Or rub a toe in sprained disrepair

Have you noticed?

We barely touch anymore

We barely kiss anymore

Oh, except for a raisin-

Withered brush of lips

At some social function

Every now and then,

Or for the rare photograph

Where the smiles we contrive are just

As false as the passion we pretend

Have you noticed?

We barely kiss anymore

We barely lay anymore

Oh, except for the times

When some weary sleep

Finds us in bed at the same time

And we turn away in the direction of

A separate set of universes

Gazing without knowing

On galaxies replete with indifferent suns

Have you noticed?

We barely lay anymore

08/03/2003