the preliminaries are over. we’ve discussed the latest

best sellers, a trendy art house, a French film that you

had no interest in, but it happened to be chic at the time.

abruptly, the conversation ends.

in the silence, we gaze at each other briefly. our lips touch,

your mouth opens slightly at my urging, our tongues engage

in the lovers combat. as my hand is about to cup your breast,

it is deterred by the small barrier of your own hand, and I

allow you that victory, like a man without a backbone,

without a hunger.

are we afraid? fearful of being taken before a tribunal

of unblemished hearts, stripped and lashed,

for unlawful carnal knowledge…

we are prisoners of love in separate cells. the eyes in the walls

watch us, blinking codes to each other that only they understand.

the elders who rule would judge our simple affection as the crime

of uninhibited souls. the thought police would arrive and break

down the door, and soon after we would be nothing more than

rebellious memories…

in the heaven of a million stars, is there one star that

would afford us a haven, a blissful refuge?

do you know that star?

can you guide me there?