I think this is good. I feel good about this. It's very drafty, but it's making me smile.
NOCTURNE 1 [IF IT'S DARK, THEN]
I.
If it's dark, then slide with me. A loose red
in the winter, make a mutter, make
a second man. In my dream, I saw you swimming. Ozone
loose in the hair, tangle love where my skin sleeps. I do not
wash away. I do not leave you.
II.
Sleep under my lips. Sleep under my words.
This is the language, close against us, running
ink across your hands. Press me to the stones
of the river, and push. Or:
III.
forget me. The heart is the heart, red and unmoving. You can be
the tongue against my skin; you can be the river in my hair. We are
locked and undone; we're clasped and finished. I would hold you.
---
[edited Thursday to implement the changes I made last night, deleting "Deceive." from being the first sentence of the first line, and changing in the second section "indelible / ink on your hands" to "running / ink across your hands". Yes.]
NOCTURNE 1 [IF IT'S DARK, THEN]
I.
If it's dark, then slide with me. A loose red
in the winter, make a mutter, make
a second man. In my dream, I saw you swimming. Ozone
loose in the hair, tangle love where my skin sleeps. I do not
wash away. I do not leave you.
II.
Sleep under my lips. Sleep under my words.
This is the language, close against us, running
ink across your hands. Press me to the stones
of the river, and push. Or:
III.
forget me. The heart is the heart, red and unmoving. You can be
the tongue against my skin; you can be the river in my hair. We are
locked and undone; we're clasped and finished. I would hold you.
---
[edited Thursday to implement the changes I made last night, deleting "Deceive." from being the first sentence of the first line, and changing in the second section "indelible / ink on your hands" to "running / ink across your hands". Yes.]