By Misti Velvet Rainwater
Date: 1 October 1999

Primrose Path

burning rose petals
mate with a hissing
   rainbow flame
as I listen
   to "Stairway to Heaven"
in my bedroom
in the dark
   feeling eternity
      for
  a moment
I can feel
   my uncle's spirit
 and I 
     can
       feel
          you
     do you believe
 the reality
   of my
 sick longing?
      this ritual is only
 a ripple
   in the pond
you doubt
   my depth
   in my eyes you only
  see
    your reflection

I wonder if you
ever think
   of how good
 and deep
  our first
    kisses were
do you remember
  the connection?
     once I was
   your magical girl
   your delicate marble rose
   your starry eyed dreamer
 you would tell me
   so tenderly
  not to worry
 you were big enough
  for the both of us
  I could ride across
   on your shoulders

we held hands
  and walked
   down a path
under a crescent moon
  a Cheshire Cat smile
   the whole world smiled on us
  when we
  first met
and there was a mist
   and I might have stumbled
  and maybe
    sometimes
  I was a little
    afraid
 but being with you
  I didn't cry out
  and I didn't worry
because you lit
   me up
(the candle is still glowing)