Maggie Cleveland

Photo by Janice Raynor

Penumbra

After an hour a hand
reaches up and shakes the core

tip of the mind tilts
to catch & absorb

the words floating
above your skin. We’ve

known each other only
in warbling light, no cover
of darkness, no pretense

only my body shaking above you,
bright edge lit as we turn

from backs to curled sides, heads
propped up on our arms, hands

tracing curves of cheekbones, chins

& waiting to see what time
will make of us, all the rest

obscured.