These oak leaves

The plans of a summer past

Stripped

Too early by the season

Abandoned and lying about the ground

Easily lifted

To settle

At someone else's door

Whispers

In a January voice

Kisses

Laid bare on her northern brow

Breathless

With each December boy

Restless

On winter nights that threaten

without cease

She’ll miss me

When the leaves are betrayed

by the branches

She’ll see me

As they’re shook loose

in their golden prime

She’ll want me

as they’re swept

from the trunk, groveling

She’ll need me

At January’s first howl

When her limbs will shiver

In a voice

That isn’t mine

Have you ever been sun burnt

On the longest day of the year

Sixteen hours

Summer solstice

Burning up the tropic of cancer

Too much for a little dancer

Like you

Let me lay a fresh seam

Banking on a moonbeam

Circle of illumination

You're always with the hesitation

Making today longer than it needs to be

Have you ever had a black out

Just smears of color

Leaning on your lover

Twisted in the covers

With whomever that may be

Light fills your room early

The shortest night seems so blurry

Have you ever been sun burnt

On the longest day of the year

One of those days

You want to get through quick

Well honey, this ain't it

Circle of illumination

Like a pistol

Pointed straight at your face

Burning humiliation

No saving grace

That's your fear

On the longest day of the year

"All young men are in a hurry" he says to me.

In a hurry for what?

(after a long pause)

"It seems I can't remember"