Carry the Weight of Stars (Poem)

Photograph by Lisa Michelle Arhontidis Used With Permission

© Lisa Michelle Arhontidis

Carry the Weight of Stars

Begin at the curve, slide over the edge gently, trail
      a path downward softly, keeping your eyes closed.

Whisper nothing in the dark that can be mistaken
      for more than the banquet you've promised.

Hear nothing in the pauses that will take you
      a lifetime to get over once the lights come on.

Forget nothing about your own standstill heart
      as the music goes low in the background.

Listen carefully. Let this moment be like the first time
      you kneeled at the ocean's side, drawing in

With every salted breath another blood-warming
      finger of sunlight to burn up the wave

After wave of longing. Lie as if there is no horizon
      to break the one into two, as if your very life

Depends on your spine rising and falling with every kiss
      imprinted between your first thought and your last.

Let the sticky sweetness linger until dawn. When you get
      up, walk away as if you carry the weight of stars.

© 2010 Maureen E. Doallas
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I wrote this poem for One Shoot Sunday at One Stop Poetry, which today features a Picture Prompt Poetry Challenge using the image shown above.

Anyone may participate in the challenge. Go here to read the interview with photographer Lisa Michelle Arhontidis, and to learn what to do to accept the challenge. Be sure to leave there the link to your poem or prose offering.