heat
heat is a constant melody
blaring from the radios
planted like seeds in
the gardens of my body
the music is always on
pushing lyrics in sweat beads
out of the skin on my temples
blasting beats of pleasure
in my vulva furnace where
it transforms into waterfalls
heat is a spell – magic
in its ability to move like
plumey smoke to tousle
my veins like half-alive
leaves clinging to
the mother tree
heat is a dictionary
spurting letters and sounds
volcanic communication
rumbling in the Vesuvius
of my spinal cord
heat howls
heat hides
heat vultures
heat slides
dramatic of course
flamboyant yes
righteous rambunctious religious
in its plight to convert me
I am baptized in The River Perspiration
intoxicated by the salty streams of
liquid hot pointing like arrows
on the battered road signs of
life’s trembling adventures
all the important things
involve heat
feather | feathers
one feather with a broken rachis or
two feathers leaninginto each other
one core aimed in a new direction or
two foundations reaching for connection
one splayed body bend
ing
into shadow or
two bodies crooked opening
toward the light
one image of blissful blue strokes
e x p a n d i n g over open white
choosing to see two featherstouching
knowing the way love
can blend into singularity
understanding that way love
can C
R
A
C
K
a centre
the honey stickiness of
enduring love that grounds
separate roots
one or two
together and apart
broken then blended
the sacred dance of commitment
as fickle as feathers in waiting
as phenomenal as the wind
that whips them into ecstasy
Tomorrow is the hubby and I’s seventeenth wedding anniversary. Oh, sweet love. Thank you! In total, our love has been alive for 23 years. That’s nearly half my life. Love is grand and true. Thank you, babe.
Keep loving.
VANESSA SHIELDS, writer 