You ask to walk the cedar-green path
          behind your house    to feel the needles
                    of cool air pricking your cheeks
                              one more time

I trail you watching and ready
          you fall backwards as if melting
                    your forearms sink against mine
                              until we are elbow-in-elbow

I step into you and slip my feet under yours
          soles curve over arches   toes over toes
                    in this manner we turn and pick our way
                              two left feet    two right

Your body arches      pitches away from me
          I catch it as it crests
                    steady you into your bird steps
                              and when they wobble     net you in again

Only now you’ve begun the dropping
          you slump I grab         hip ribs
                    you sink I lift         clavicle shoulder
                              you collapse I clasp         neck temple  

Down we slide together you come to rest
          in my thighs   improbably laughing
                    sun is pressing our shadows
                              flat and broad as you go still

Awing slides across your lids
          your eye-light narrows
                    smaller       black
                              smaller         out