Let’s play a game – you and I – a game

you are bound to win. When you find me invisible,

I am seen. Everywhere an eye, yet mine are closed. You go first,

walk close to me. Take my picture, blurred and smiling. You own

this night from one bar to another, from the shower

to the small room of sleep – you lead,

I shadow, hand over hand turned – word over word

frightened from me and carefully placed on the ground

walking between us on many legs. All of a sudden,

or as expected, my waiting stops at your coming and stands there

though the rest of us may stay in motion – the road going on

to our good and patient life, our potted plants and curtains

drawn. What’s left of me stops to scratch beneath our tenderness

until it bleeds and I am warm on my fingers and warm in your mouth. Let’s go inward,

on my turn you take trembling and knot it into stillness, spreading blue and yellow

laced firmly across skin. No matter where it starts in your hands.