Indescribable–our love–and still we say
with eyes averted, turning out the light,
“I love you,” in the ordinary way
and tug the coverlet where once we lay,
all suntanned limbs entangled, shivering, white …
indescribably in love. Or so we say.
Your hair’s blonde thicket now is tangle-gray;
you turn your back; you murmur to the night,
“I love you,” in the ordinary way.
Beneath the sheets our hands and feet would stray
to warm ourselves. We do not touch despite
a love so indescribable. We say
we’re older now, that “love” has had its day.
But that which Love once countenanced, delight,
still makes you indescribable. I say,
“I love you,” in the ordinary way.
Winner of the 2001 Algernon Charles Swinburne poetry contest
(Michael Burch)
More Poetry from Michael Burch:
Michael Burch Poems based on Topics: Love, Night, Light- She Gathered Lilacs, for Beth (Michael Burch Poem)
- Mother's Smile (Michael Burch Poems)
- The Desk, for Jeremy (Michael Burch Poem)
- A True Story, for Jeremy (Michael Burch Poem)
- Because Her Heart Is Tender, for Beth (Michael Burch Poem)
- Tremble (Michael Burch Poem)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: Love Poems, Night Poems, Light PoemsBased on Keywords: despite, older, murmur, stray, sheets, poetry, ordinary, thicket, charles, shivering, tug