Eternity

The gods 

fire their warning shots

to take off limbs

they are not

fucking around

they haul us close

by the shirt-collar

or by twisting our sleeves

until they bite 

into the flesh of the arm

and they whisper 

against our ears

that we may feel the 

breath and spittle 

pressing against us 

as strong as the storm winds rising

in the sky their words

are burning the heavens

with letters of fire

and the earth convulses

when they bang on the table 

to wake us from our reverie

from our dreams of softness

four months

is not long enough for a leave-taking

how many moments

how many hours

can we fold into that close space

and fill with love 

like the petals of beach roses

so easily torn 

by this hurricane

so hard to hold or to press 

for a short eternity

with our mortal hands. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosa_rugosa#/media/File:Rosa_rugosa_Tokyo.JPG