Evening Rain

by Dave Stover

Her eyes open to the evening rain
Lips bidding the night on,
She, the silver pearl, lacy bodice
Unbuttoned by ivory smooth fingers
Twisting, the furtive glances, a half-sung
Tune fading into swirling movements
Before the hot embers.

I followed her into an evening’s reverie
Every vibration pulsing as beats on an
Eternal clock
Pausing to wish its continuance.

Connected with another glance,
A surprise tear caught and salty.
Mesquite and pine aromas mixing

A burdened beginning, masking a fear
Of repeat rejections, unable to avoid
Going on, keeping all joy of the moment
From drowning out cries to end . . .

But I awakened finding myself pleading.
Go away from my life, beaten, broken
Endlessly despairing the failures
Needing denying pleasures, ashamed.

Don’t come near but you don’t listen
Your finger to my lips, silence;
A body rising, curling around, the rapture returns.
A shroud enveloping, eternity returns.
Another tear, my own, drops
Eyes closing in the evening rain.