Ivy
Church Lane
Her shorts hang from narrow hips,
her blouse holds every breath.
He wears a pair of ragged jeans,
his beard prickles half a palm.
Ivy Church Lane leads to a lake
shadowed by trees and rocky
cliffs.
She hopes for everlasting love.
He hopes to love her on a rock.
Rings of ripples come from wings—
the water’s surface traps a bee.
He takes a twig and the bee
climbs,
but under water goes the twig.
A bubble grows around the bee
which tries to climb and live.
But soon enough he turns the
twig.
The lovers laugh and touch.
Finally, everything lets go;
the bee, the hand, the clothes.
The lovers forget the bee
the way passion forgets cruelty.
