In Rome, we were drawn to red wine,
the tannins tart in our mouths, surrounded
by all that newness in a city so ancient.
Your hands leapt to circle a pickpocket’s wrist,
so quick to keep us safe & whole.
When you roll the sleeves of a dress shirt,
I’m transported to the passenger seat
of your Civic where we ran errands —
that ordinary stuff of life. These days,
we watch Lewis Hamilton circle the track
just as we orbited each other, moving closer
& closer until friendship bled to passion.
You allow me my interests — I craft nearby
as your mouse clicks. Onscreen, Katya falls
into a death drop & we are unshakeable,
we are home, surrounded by the cats
that remind us of Klaus the lion—
all sweetness. No snarl, no bite.
In Rothenburg, cobblestones led us
to schneeballen —crumbs in our palms,
our hands clasped as we walked
the city’s wall. Aren’t we so protected?
This partnership is a fortress against
all enemies, all danger.
We know that love isn’t perfection. It’s a ring
ignored on the Eiffel Tower. It’s hibachi
& chicken nuggets, the silly songs you belt.
That day in March, rain poured in the dry air
of Arizona as we promised to weather
any storm, to fly each other to the moon.