The Darkness Holds More Than We Know

The night air caresses pale skin as I wade
Through the shadows on the street,
I cannot sleep, though I am weary...restless.
There are people crawling around me, moving like insects around light,
Sunlight that is so demanding, so distracting, so very painfully spolighted.
They hide in the light and are afraid of this night.

Because the moon does not insist,
And its light is soft and humming,
Soothing people to dissipate from their walls,
Leaving them vulnerable and opening their eyes.

So they sleep, and they slumber, and they dream of being awake.

Not I.

I cannot sleep, though I am weary... restless.
And these people crawl from their dreams
And pollute the air with their breath.

I slip into darkness, instead of sliding into the sheets.
Where is he?
His breath, his neck, his voice, his smell...
And above all his eyes that see like the moon.

I wander the streets, slipping in between shadows.
Trapped in a cage, trapped in these barriers.
As I sing in a haunting tune,
"My body is a cage, that keeps me
From dancing with the one I love,
But my mind holds the key."

Over and over the song restarts and finishes in my head,
The melody vibrating in my throat and passing my closed lips.
This is my dream. These endless night streets,
And these quiet lamps that buzz in the resounding silence.

I am searching, searching, searching.
Floating under the midnight sky
Like foam that birthed the Aphrodite,
Where is my key to unlock me?
And who am I to deny he?

Calm eyes, warm touch, and that kiss...
Those lips that put the sun in my chest,
Hidden from the sky, where it can do no harm.

Darkness licks my pale skin,
Illuminated by pale light.

The moon is almost full.
My heart is overfilled.
My fingers cup these words,
And sifts through them like salt.

The cuts and bruises burn,
But, I walk on despite the searing in my bones,
To find myself under covers,
In a bedroom that is empty.

Not one word spoken, not one glance met.
I look at no one if I cannot see him staring back,
I do not speak if I hear his voice responding.
The world is keeping me locked,
Drowning underwater with the outside noise
Reduced to a dull drumming murmur.

Oh seas, release your Aphrodite,
And bring me the key to unbind me.

Only these words I have in my hand
All these beautiful syllables
That come from him,
Bring us together tonight.

Oh please, you seas, release your Aphrodite,
And bring his key, to forever unbind me.