Upstream

You flew into my life
like a kite on a summer's breeze,
wings as bright as a peacock.

A new moon reflected
your soul to mine over a bridge
as revellers passed underneath.

Diving in, feet first after paddling in the
water, waiting for other boats to
pass through our lock.

Holding fast to your heart as water
swirls around us. Both growing closer with
each breath taken beneath the surface.

Enticing tiny bubbles
tickle the surface of our skin, interlocked,
learning to swim.

Blessed with inherent warmth,
climbing my body to kiss
my parted lips as water lilies float
calmly on our mirrored sky.

A storm passes overhead as
bitter silt and grains of sand cloud our
crystal vision of tranquillity.

Sticks, stones, mud.
Against the ebb and flow. We ride
the currents together.

Without us, we are
nothing. With us,
we are everything.

Passing fear of the boats already passed
and losing our grip as the water muddies
around our naked bodies.

Missing the warmth of our being,
not seeing what it is we are and what
we have through the murky depths.

Clearing the water takes time, gaining
perspective and finding
space and time once again.

We will swim upstream together holding hands,
through the reeds, and find each other in
a place where we can just, be.

Storms will come,
the waters will muddy
and we will lose each other's hand.

Though I will never
forget the everything
in my life that needs to exist.