Oak Arching Above You

We'll be walking   hand in hand
in a forest   we will kiss -
not stopping   not watching
cross boundaries   so blind.

In the middle   of a kiss
you will shiver   and dissolve
melting   like the witch
into a puddle   into a pool.

As I reach   towards you
arms will lengthen   and turn solid
skin transforms   to bark -
thick hair   becomes green leaves.

Each spring   the girls come running -
giggles   break the silence -
to seek   a future lover
in the stillness   of your depths.

Instead   you cruel reflect
the shadows   in their singing
they leave   a little wiser
sadness   in their step.

And I   can never touch you
but my roots   drink thirsty deeply -
each autumn   leaves a scattering
gold and scarlet   sinking slowly.

We can only   hope for summer
storms   to send you flooding -
up against me   to surround me
in a watery   embrace.

*****
M.A. Mohanraj
September 27, 1993
(for Jeff - happy birthday)