use the scarred skin
of your heart
to scratch a match
awake
then light a candle
in the cave
reveal the stalagmite
and stalactite stretching
dripping
towards each other
eventually
the tips of their tongues
will touch
spark at the heart
of the dark
they share
leaves become
same colour
as the fire
that made them fall
your flame throws bird shadows
over the walls of my heart
that have never known sky
your songs shriveling
to scent
summer did not live
in that summerhouse
winter and spring
braided themselves there
you’re the green fronds of fire
that grouts the cobbled back streets of my heart
the bright butterflies still being born
from the braided shadows of brambles
blossom become sentient
songs soft as September
whispers through the grass
you’re the drafts of dusk
that sifts the rusty rafters
songlines become sighlines
walking with you
turned fields
into prairies
all my taps are dripping
the sun froths and flares
in another field
skylarks sleep
wings taking root
in the earth
I see you
the suits of shadows
lined with gold
a tree shakes off
a torrent of rain
dipped its head
in the sky
the cry of church bells
across the city
serpents of scent
wrapped round your wrists