Secret Message

 Have you ever played that game?

    he asked, while writing on my back.

    We were curled in bed together.

You trace letters on somebody's skin

And they try to guess your message.

    I giggled, Yeah, it's hard! Like a secret, even when you know it's there.

    He began again, enunciating with his fingers, pressing each letter of my name.

    Before, it could have been: connecting my freckles, ABCs, etc,

        but with my name, I felt the intention.

    Somewhere overhead in the night,

    the unseen stars swirl around the Earth

    observing paths familiar to them

    riding and writing the dome of the sky

    still being discovered by us with delight

How do I tell you the secrets

    that I won't say out loud to myself?

My heart melts quietly in your arms, in hopes you will not notice.

My eyes reflect the silent stars; I dare look up

    while you plant what could be a constellation

    of gentle kisses on my forehead, here.

    and here, and here, and here

and here

        and here

    thoroughly, methodically, sweet.

What are we telling ourselves?

What are we willing to hear?

Close your eyes.

Let me bring your soft face to my lips

    under the winking stars.

Tell me when you get the message I keep from myself.

Let me write it again and again,

    spelling it out on your skin 

    until you feel it, too.

And then I'll know it's true.