he came to me
tonight
in a dream
a strange waking dream
a messenger
from a time not yet
from a place not here
i lent
against him
and sobbed
enraptured
gasps
breathing
fast
ready
then
stillness came
escorting me
from the brink
"you
have not known pleasure
at a man's hand"
i cried a tear
every shade in one drop
"slow down" he said
"we have the rest of our lives"
i smiled
the sound of the truth
soaking into me
June 2001