One Witness

My wife tells me
That I am especially
Romantic when I am fast asleep.

She felt my fingers
Start at her closed legs
Tracing away at her head.

I remember nothing
Of all of this cuddling
And feel thoroughly cheated.

Waking Her Up

Her eyes are closed
And hotly kohled,
I kiss the oil on her face,
Waking her up in parts.

I lift her kurti
And close my lips
On the soft fat
Around her back.

She makes noises
I can place as happy
Despite the complaints
From her body.

Motivations for Connecting

I look at you and know
Exactly what we are capable of
If I drop the matchstick
On all that falls from you.

Pillow talk without sex,
Stories that can perform,
And lots of tea.

I look at you,
Speak of your forests
And leave without incident;
I have enough fire for now.

Deep Sleeping

I am not as light a sleeper
As I need to be, my father says,
I sleep as if the sheep have returned,
The pastures are empty,
And my day is done.

Sometimes I wake up
And a whole day has passed
And I feel the truth of my
Complete replaceability.

.

I hug a waist in front of me
Before I am wakeful enough
To fear rejection --
Perfume and sweat
And I am content.