Close your eyes.
Close your eyes and hold them tight
because there’s not much light to see with.
The night is cold and rainy
and the half-frozen drops that pelt your cheek
sting like the tears of a betrayed lover.
Close your eyes
your puffy, bloodshot eyes
and shut your ears so you can hear
the whisper of a voice that used to hold you
and kiss your lips like a swan touching the water’s face
sending ripples up and down your spine.
Close your eyes
so that you can replay your lover’s fingers and tongue
moving across your skin
over and over again in the theatre of your mind
and tell yourself that since this movie
didn’t have a star
who could hold you close without smothering you
or listen to the beat of your heart
without scowling when it throbbed for someone else
that the next one, and the next one never will
and you are better off watching endless reruns
or the scenes of couples sculpted through the crackling static
on your television screen.
Close your eyes, friend
and tell yourself that long nights of cuddling and talking
are best reserved for soap operas
because flesh and blood characters
bleed too easily
and you don’t think they’ve got the artful composition
to make it through a lifetime of seasons
without succumbing to the classic soap opera pitfalls
of fists clenched in anger
and tongues dipped in silver
weaving tangled webs of whispered promises
that evaporate with the morning dew
during the commercial break.
Close your eyes, love
and turn your back on the empty spot beside you
that might be filled with cheeks that have felt the same tears.
Close your ears when you hear me whisper to you
pull away from my touch
because you can’t see if the warmth of my hands and voice
is matched by a smile that kisses you openly
without the clenched pouting of jealous lips.
Close your eyes, lover
because I want them to be open
but I would never force your lids apart
any more than I would stand between you
and the kiss of another.
It’s still raining cats and dogs
and I wouldn’t want to see you
drenched in a thunderstorm of tears
if you’re still shivering from the last time
you were left out in the cold.
So close your eyes
and do whatever it takes
to stay warm and dry
on an icy night like this.
Whenever you’re ready
to come wandering through the falling sleet
looking for me
I’ll be waiting.