this is what you do to me

Sometimes

When we sit next to each other

Talking about the most

Mundane things

I want to lean into you

Rest my head on your shoulder

Close my eyes

And let go of the world

You do that to me

You make me feel at peace

rain

My fondest memory of you

Is a rainy day in Colombo

I didn't think I'd see you

But there you were

Sunshine on a gloomy day

And we walked outside

Under your umbrella

Stepping over puddles

Laughing

Two happy people*

*I would have preferred

To end this by saying we were

Two people in love

But let's not kid ourselves or

Abuse our poetic license

Sour

Flour, water, sugar
A bit of Marmite to help
The starter along
Days of monitoring
Certain the yeast was dead
But finally, a loaf
Almost twenty-four hours in the making
Not counting the eight days
Of daily feeding
To keep the starter alive

And as I slather butter on
A slice
Bite into it
Get used to how sour it is
- they really meant is when they called it sourdough -
I wonder if I'd ever have made
Such an effort for you
With us

To be deleted

He sat across from me
Wine in our glasses
Stars above us
His eyes were beautiful
The night was lovely

He inhaled and exhaled
Next to me
Already asleep
His body almost touching mine
And I lay awake
For a little while longer

And on both nights
Nothing in me stirred
Because neither of these men
Were you

Heartbreak No. 01

I wish I'd done things differently
And chosen a boy who wouldn't
Break my heart
The way an axe is slammed
Into a log of wood

I wish I'd chosen someone kind
For that inevitable Heartbreak No. 01
Because you left
Slamming the door behind you
And with you went the trust
I had in people, in love

Love

And maybe I will never know
What love is

What it's like to wake up to
A cup of coffee by the bed
Breakfast on a plate
A kiss goodbye
The day spent apart
But always together
Coming home to an
Empty house
That is soon occupied
Once again by
Two people in love
Their books with mine
Their music playing
In the living room
They whistle a tune
As they go about the house
Tending to minor chores
As dinner for two is served
On the table in the pantry
Plates washed and dried
Going to bed
One that isn't cold or empty
Falling asleep next to
Someone I love

I will never know what this
Feels like