lovers

the world went sideways
and i lay you down
was i not a gentle lover
ever careful, watchful
sitting with the hours
just beside your bed

i smelled a thief
beyond your window
in a winter
hard with rain
bending in the willow
whispering your name

i heard his tongue
scrape raw the darkly air
heard his hands
make part the leaves
saw the glimmers
and the covet in his stare

i felt a hunger
come a rapping,
making shudders in my heart
knew the fulsome
of his magicks
the breathings from his lair

we wove a spell
that night together
bound by promise
tight with care
so you could sleep forever
our lover fair