Dining by starlight, a special
night of gifts and cannibal
memories, tied with the bow
of appetite, desire less slow
than the candles on the cake
might lead the baker to expect.
Thoughtful gifts, the casual neglect
of darkness, depths that will take
some getting used to, minor adjustment
and division in the long run
down to the kiss that startles judgment
from its claim that love is done.
Love may be gone or put to flight,
instinct still mimics its soft goodnight.