A Start

Let us start with this, with nothing to say, 
Without having to write a thing down on paper, 
Posting it on our foreheads, 
Which reads ‘Love’. 

Let us start without a touch, 
Without the creases of a hand.  
Let us start by breath, meeting with it. 
Let us start with the details: 
Your earlobes, the white of your fingernails, 
And the length of your eyelashes. 
Let us not start with the sexy 
That your hips have. 

Let us not start with the arguing, with agreement. 
Let us not start with ‘Hi’ or ‘Goodbye’. 
Let us not start with a song, with a letter. 
Let us not start with a poem, 
With a poem. 

I’d rather start with your yawning, your deep sleep. 
I’d rather start the next day 
Imagining you, curled-up. 
Your pillow…is the luckiest pillow. 
I easily get jealous, 
So just sleep a little longer. 
Do go, looking for your brother, 
Your father… 
…your brother. 
Please…look for me 
In the morning. 

Let us start with the heart, 
The heart with its bare feet, moving 
And yet anticipates. 
It throbs for the sight of you, dear. 
It is an ice cream without your lick. 
And it is of better fate, only, 
When you hold it: 
A Chihuahua 
Dandled 
At your lap. 

And wait is not a verb, until someone notices it; 
Not, until you actually notice me. 
I stand upon a stage of love, 
Twitterpated. 
You stand upon the stage, 
Singing. 

I cannot measure 
The distance of a dream 
From its dreamer. 
But let us start with this: 
With how far you are…from my side. 

Let us start…standing…for us: 
Feet in front of feet, 
Statuary, 
Amongst the circling 
Of billion feet. 

Let not this beginning 
Stand waiting, 
Backpack on, not having noticed. 
Let’s not make it ride the train
Back home.

© 2012 J.S.P.