the collective intake of breath
like a creaking bellows
as the townlights switched off unexpected
and we all were plunged
into total darkness.

in the blind marketplace
the women produced candles
from under their stalls

suddenly the stars stood out
proud and clear
in the moonless sky
and everyone crept quiet
like quiet creepy things
in the dumb dark darkness

i stood motionless
as embers from lit fags
drifted past like fireflies
lighting parts of the faces
floating above the black dress of the night

see
how carefully he spreads you
each opening crease
recalling the breath of accordions
soft territories
slowly rustling underneath

his thumbs
lapping gently
at sliding layers
make a song
derived from a double contact
that elongates
extends
unfolds
a rare and luxurious sound

see
objects in space
summoned by line and symbol
and made flesh
floating there tactile above your skin
defying any theory of gravity
warmed by imagined places

your hand in mine feels strong and fleshy
here in the salt rime smell of the Thames beach
where we find a strange shooting plant
and seaweed
full of the ocean's oscillations

your grip is strong
but loose
relaxed
and there is a space
between our hands

a strange salient light clings to the moss-fringed walls,
rootless green thoughts
of the city's disenfranchised and dispossessed

pigeons browse at the waters lurching edge

the mad city is yards away
but here
there is a space
between our hands

and you will never leave me
we will always be here
we will always have this refuge:
a walled garden at the centre of the labrynth

labrynth's are not the same as mazes
there are no forks
there are no false turns
you have simply to keep walking the path to reach the garden

a place unzip your imperfections
and discover anew the strange perfumes
of your own vulnerability

you will find me
each day anew

i will find you
each day anew

reaching not for eachother
but into the space between our bodies

we will always be here
and it will always be new

1.

your hair
low on your forehead
your belt tight
counting beauty
low amongst the flowers

the beat of your body
hot and low amongst the flowers

2.

oh black out my eyes
and redden my lips

with wardrobes strapped to your falling shoes
tipped forward, back
your fingers gripping the corner there
crouch lift lever roll drop

3.

you eat the raven stolen bread
see sparrow pecked reflections
slung from the branches
swinging in the tree tops

dig there
in the thick mud
spread it black over the loose skin of my swung belly

take cabbage leaves from your brassiere
in black heels strutting
sinking slow under arched eyebrows

4.

my finger
whispered on your cheek

my sleeve
spoke to the quiet crown of your hair
seaweed in the tide

5.

you weep and laugh the same song
balanced there amongst stacked boxes
stretched tall and painted
in slow seeping silk
a dripping caress
drowning in the wet red of your dress
standing on my shoulders
then falling down again
to beat the dirt out of your ears
your armpits
your belly
your chipped nails
to beat out jaw-loosed tears
the razor blade of forgiveness
slack slung snug
a snow storm of foam at your mouth
under the tenement block
huge green oaks climb steaming

a child waves in the window

6.

the plates stacked white
are rows of teeth
that bite blind close
to the cavity of ear
in tight light circles

the glasses shining
on the table cloth
are red shoes
dancing
a rum tango

would you tiptoe back to me?
as if feet lived at the summit
of our bodies landscape?
as if angels with accordions
played snowy waltzes
inside our boots

as if we naked gods
could dance a rollerskate rumba
in the Old Hotel

7.

whistle
to the thousand white sheep
to the single black lamb
held in your arms

blow
the whisky bottle trumpet
confused and besotted
the warm muzzled alcohol
nuzzling your guts

sleep
watched and woolen
that chewed
your wings

wait
like clouds
the sheep
sniffing at your shoes

8.

flock black birds
rough white sky
missing