Love in the time of COVID

The surface of your mask palpitates with your breath, mimicry of
Pulse breaking soft skin and with each inhale I think how
Softly my fingertips will trace against your tremulous life against pale neck
As I watch you in the morning light that peeked on us.
Only the dark should witness the way I kiss you back to life slowly,
Like feeding dew drops to the moan of a parched man. You are
Still breathing and I struggle to breathe through the thick of desire.

In this broad daylight, we hide in the cool shade of privacy in my mind
And I am always just watching, chin on knees, childishly
Awaiting the shooting star and squealing in delight at the dash of light
Or the accidental brush of your hand lighting up every galaxy of nerve.
Then, I am grateful for hiding half my face, half of the bright moon
So obnoxiously lovestruck I was afraid you might finally see it.

The mask is papery thin now and I hope you never notice me
Staring at the flutter of your lips and every blinding smile.
I am as nervous as a groom muttering an undying promise praying
You are mouthing the same beneath the wedding veil. We have
Sworn in the presence of angels who have turned away from me lest
They see my thoughts and crash – a feathery comet- into Earth,
Impure faithless servants who lost their enchantment.
That is to say, we have no witness and I am feeling reckless.

I will not breathe in case you shall stir awake and regard me and my
Shivering heart all wide-eyed and trusting and then I might really die.
Don’t look at me like that. You can extort anything from me.
Stop looking at me like that or I cannot stop myself from closing the distance
Till our lashes intertwine and the ocean is roaring in my ears and I
Cannot stop sealing my confession of truth
Between my lips and the gap of your tooth.