He will say
sip this thick flowing mead
and mean this:

We should talk of who we are.

He will say
ceviche
and mean this:

If you will just taste the lime
you will want the fish.
Whoever tastes the fish
will turn from the table
satisfied.

He will say
this locked door behind us
is all we have to bind us to each other
and mean this:

I am alone, and you are my last hope.

He will say
red breath, silk finger,
o you of the charred emerald eyes
and mean this:

I have no home on this earth,
except with you.

He will say
a flower grown in plastique
blooms in my blood
and mean this:

I am dying —
to be this close and not touch you!

He will say
tonight has a scent of open wounds
and mean this:

Only you can close me
tight against the bleeding.

He will say
imagine the trace evidence of novas
all around us
and mean this:

We will burn till there is no more sun.

He will say
there is a fear no one can name
that is coded into the air
that is the rhythm of deep trench ocean
and mean this:

Only together
can we learn what it is
that I want most to say to you.