ponderosa

i've never sat
in that chair
with overrun river
eyes, watching you
feel up time
wearing your secret
dress, letting your breasts
whisper on the hem
like linen

with a noise, a caution
somewhere back in the thatched
ceiling of red
alders on their knees
a belly of cool
grass and yarrow

you
never a liar
me
never the breeze
i pretend to be