look harder

look at each other
across the vast gulf
and try to read
what is in your hearts and heads
most of all try
to read yourself
in the eyes of the other

life is so short
so capable of beauty and disaster

it's too late now to look
for anything but truth

as we fly out of the room
on wings of cold silk

love is all we have
that keeps us airborne

gazing down as vibrant birds aloft
into what we know is coming soon
borne upwards in that sudden great heat
and cold that last swoon
to meet us and catch us forever
in its last known slap sideways
into nothing

take your chances and love real hard
little bird

.