A New Beginning

If we run across the silty sand barefoot

If we twirl in the slipping sun at dusk

If we let our skin get dry with crusted salt
and drink in the deep, dark scent of magnolias
we will go beyond the door.

Before. Begin again.

The petals will not fall rotten and stinking
white velvet stained to brown.

The years repealed, will slide back,
reveal the spell our childhood cast.

If we go before the door
the arc of water is still rising
dangling drops of dripping dreams
as we run through it, wet like electric eels transpierced by love.

Charged particles collide, bathed in light bright like white out -
we are still laughing, our faces gilding in the sun.

My hand would touch your curls
soft brown ringlets tight across your brow
and you could stand my crabbed caress.

The taste in our mouths would be
only the sweetness of beginnings.
All traces of the bitter orange gone.