Body Heat
July 21 2009


Such sultry heat
there is no relief,
the sun so high
it drives our shadows
straight into the ground.
Even the bugs have hunkered down,
their hard black bodies
cinder-dry.

We move slowly.
We sit motionless.
We revel in the brief wisps of breeze
that stroke our shoulders
stir our sun-bleached hair,
the fleeting shelter
in a puff of cloud.

We are naked, eyes shut
heads tilted upward.
Our bodies are engines of heat,
dark skin flushed with blood
radiating barely contained desire.

I picture your body underwater,
smooth as polished rock
golden hair floating up,
your nipples stiff
your body slick,
the muscles in your arms
strong and hard.
Small bubbles of air
cling to your skin,
your measured breath
released as slow as blown kisses.
I follow your legs
rising up to the curve of your ass
the small of your back
your shoulder blades,
like delicate wings
rippling beneath an even tan.

We will make love
in this sun-warmed water,
weightless
frictionless
out of breath,
bursting out into air
where the sun will dry us
in seconds.

Except the wetness, where I entered you
running down your leg.
And the sweat, intermingling,
where we hold each other
our bodies touching
our skin still flushed.