Nocturnal Exchange
by Kimberly A. Castro

Will this become habit?
Night falls:
the only time
I see you bright-eyed.
Will we exchange words
while the sun
hits our skin,
tangled, wrapped breath?
When light floods the room,
you leave me,
only to wait
for the next
nocturnal
return.

Witness
(Omer Avital on the Upright)
by Kimberly A. Castro

Sitting there
I understand for the first time
the slow workings of addiction
filter through every opening.

Breathe as you watch him:
Sloped shoulders, flat back, barefoot
cradling his polished creature,
easily Mingus revived.
Eyes closed, leaked thoughts:
     Mystery of glowing skin, cool, sauntering high-heels,
     slight steps, a dance.
Labor, sweat dripping
unpredictable foreplay on a Thursday
night thumps
an odd synchronization
($10 at the door)
thumps eager instinct strumming Spanish tunes,
slapping truth         released
my misgivings unbottled
lucid pain translates beauty
callused fingertips plucking "Big Girl's"
carved belly turned
earth tones and his unexhausted moans
spindling into air, my ear
Oh Baby…
Heavy     thick     gut strings he strikes and then-
surrender. Break
light.
Watch how he supports her elongated neck now,
supple smiles, jostling, slight        kiss.
Steady rocking convinced notes
fuel his sweet addiction.

And I sit there
a witness
to this lovemaking.

© Kimberly A. Castro