Tiptoes

You're charming
As a war-time soldier,
fell straight out of a black and white film;
My nostalgic ideal. Guarded
as a rabbit, clandestine waxwork of a cloak and
Dagger heart,
Buried deep. Winking like a locket, snapped tight
Shut in your chest. You sparkle like gold rust.

Pale white as snow, disappearing like a
soft summer wind. You snake
circles round me like smoke.
Peat eyes.
You're sombre as six foot down goes.

Serene as a white swan
on a sheet of stained glass.
Sharp as bruised cherries; my smart nettle sting.
Unconcerned with the cut-throat ways
of so many now. Soft and caring
quietly.

You deal in figures.
Decimals, statistics,
truths.
Wear your freckles
speckled like a useless map; Guiding my
way. I try to unravel your straight
delphic features cut from hard white.
You wear your easy patience like a mask.

I’ll join the dots,
and tiptoe.

Maybe for them,
you could be any other doe.
To me
you
twinkle,
like crushed glass.