The Night Two Lovers Leapt

In the last warmth of autumn's hold 

Gripping damp November cold 

Protection from this fear 

While stripped from comfort clothes. 

Leering in the dark 

Sweat, rinsing palms, 

Moving through words once smooth 

Lost along ambiguous thought 

An arid sugared spice 

Mulling on the mind 

Humming a little tune 

While staring into night 

Sorrows shedding leaves 

By the limbering of the pines 

Near the Douglas keeping watch 

At the site where windows cry 

Under pattered raining roof, 

Sounding querent from broken breast, 

The heart once beat its truth 

The night two lovers leapt 

(Placed Second in the 2023 Louisville Literary edition of LEO WEEKLY.)