two ships passing
that's what she said
two ships passing in the night
she reduced passion to that
the music over
the dance ended
and the lights turned off
his first letters
talked of desire
the delicate balancing
one turning to the other
then the promises
and waiting, always waiting
for the answer
but it does not matter
love
being self contained
and then the truth
ships passing
darkness into light
proper channeling
all that
the reassessment of passion
in the night
the touch of skin
the persuasion of a tongue
the intimacy of desire
with the coming of dawn
a new understanding
a new truth
suitable for sunlight
and
goodbye
Copyright © michael dennis / South Western Ontario Poetry 1983
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