I’ve watched the world
end a dozen times
through your eyes
you are
the gravity well
where I am caught as
I age and falter
the way I stood with you
Andromeda lighting your face
the stars unmoored and spinning like
distant sirens as they
strobe before an air raid
impeding violence
ending slowly
dying among the bombs in
those snowy fields
melting fields watching you like
streams that never cross
and I reached out my hand
toward you for
nuclear war
burning
ending
I’ve watched the world, I said,
end a dozen times
some cycle
you are always a part of it

I’ve watched the world begin and
you were there and as I watched
I wanted to tell you
my fulcrum and
the unmoving point
the universe tilts around
I stood there
until the stars came out
the stars drifting
a disco ball at a high school
dance and
you are my
everything beautiful
like
fire endlessly burning
I hurried across
highway lanes
traveling side by side
toward the end of the pavement
you are
everything and I am
in your arms
and
I’ve watched the world
begin a dozen times
unbroken and
you are always a part of it.