When I Look, I See You

I saw the blue sparkle of your glittering eyes and hands.

You shone sapphire like the night, spinning dreams at me.

You’re so much brighter than I could ever have known,

Little hand fulls of stars and lightning and fire.

You bend so much sweeter than any dream,

Soft and supple, such a whisper like silk.

You drew me into you like paints on a canvas,

Painted me so vivid, tall sunbursts and sky.

You held my wet red hands, touched my blue heart.

I’ve never felt quite so green and growing.

Shadows melted like ice when you danced in me.

You danced like yesterday and every tomorrow,

You danced so pretty like I always knew you would.

You touched me so soft and cut me so dear,

You’ve cut me into something quite different, I’m sure.

I want to feast on you in the dark,

Like so many dreams but you won’t let me sleep,

These old black roots of me are breaking so nicely,

I never tried knowing these feet could fly.

It’s so hot in this rough, old bark, I want it off.

But I’m afraid I’ll love it so well.

You pulled me from the fire, burned me so deep,

Your whispered words like smoke in my heart,

“Inside you there are green things growing.”

I looked in the blue mirror of your eyes,

Wanted to see what you’d done,

See the paints and cuts and burning flesh.

You parted me like lips, unclothed me like fire,

I think this must be something like magic,

You’ve made me so beautiful.

You held my wet, red hands, touched my blue heart,

And for the first time ever I saw,

In my hands the brush, in my hands the paint,

In my hands the torch and my hands the blade.

You whispered so sweet, a thunderclap,

“You never lied so true but when I look, I see you.”

Eric M. Petit