The Lovers
by Robert Hogg
The Lovers
for Mike MacLean & Jeanne Choquette
I sit in the kitchen under
the whirr of the ceiling
fan and write the sounds
of your voices in
the next room no
words I can discern
as you make love
first slowly then
urgently calling
each other’s name
quietly at first now
loudly yes yes
the love air open
though the door
between us
closed a safe room
provided
by your friend who
aches for
the wonderment
you share
for you are
more than two
in the next room
and I am
more than one
hearing you
in the kitchen
beyond
the wall
because I hear
your cries
not words
no the words
are mine
to make
out of care
or I might
say love
for you
breathing
a common air
though now
to breathe
is somewhat
painful
my lungs
too delicate
for air this
rich in
memory