Transition Poem by Jack E Miller

Shall we move as smoothly as fingers, gliding in scented oil,
Down each others spine, from touch to words?
What idea shall we share, what repast
Eat, what warm stimulant sip, what game of words
Play, unless the letters we choose spell out
The intimacy of the substance spilled upon each other?
Our words cannot come only from the language of thought;
They must arise from the inmost tissue of desire, surrender.

When we look with peace upon each others face,
When our eyes enjoy the familiar glance,
we see the closed lids of our kiss-unspoken words given
Tongue to tongue. Our open eyes, in empathy, see still
The tension, strain, release and outpouring of our flesh.
We hear the words from our lips when we feel
Their touch and taste.

When we do sit side by side, at last, two old bodies
Porched in rocking chairs, our embraces, our nights
Clasped together from lust to childhood sleep,
Will rest upon us like the healing hands of Jesus
On foolish brows. Like our own hands in the morning shower
Cleansing away from each others flesh
The soil of the soul's solitude.

(For Dar,1991) Jack Miller