For Peter

if I had my way

then you'd never

have to chase me

back to your arms.

you used to say

"Tenderness, Hayleigh,

it's such a fragile thing."

but that it goes unnoticed by me.

in this place,

these confines that I'm forcing myself

to call my home,

you can never really touch me

nor my heart.

this angel's curse,

her date carved into stone,

kiss her nose

look in her limestone eyes.

"Someday," you tell me.

"We'll both be happy,

but not today."