Making A Splash

Act I

hands clasped
we waltz down the hallway
through this glorious disaster
that we orchestrated
my dress
envious
of how graceful
the fire seems to move
dancing up the walls
seducing our pictures
sliding into their frames
wrapping up together
in the bed of destiny
the paper burns so nicely
and it smells like a candle
it’s perfect
so i savor it
pulling him back
to stare up at him
watching the light dance
across his eyes
this beautiful dance
that i choreographed
with the help of the match
i hold in my hand
waving it triumphantly
conducting the crackles
and screams from outside
feeling the glorious finale
building up all around us
so i hand it to him
saying
where it all started
he laughs down at me
through the smoke
and takes it
and then together
we start to gasp
feeling it
loving it
as the foyer is consumed
our bodies revolting
against the terrible reality
of this moment that we made
so we walk out the door
leaving behind nothing
that wasn’t already gone
leaving behind everything
to feed the ravenous appetite
of this beast we just created
with a choice like any other

Interlude

certain moments change things
but this one didn’t
i guess few moments do
you can splash all you want
but if nothing leaves the pool
then all you’ve done is splash
the ripples will fade
and you will tire
before finally
your arms betray you
the pool sucks you down
and you will drown
but take solace
that in that moment
you will realize
there’s not much to do in a pool
other than splash
and so you will
once more
but this time
you splash
just to splash
for the very first time

Act II

thirty minutes later
it’s gone
smoldering
beautifully disassembled
in that perfect sort of way
in which it could never be put back
we’re holding each other
in a circle of flashing lights
as if something burning
was somehow an occasion
worthy of festivities
ash wafting down onto us
like snow on a december morning
i wipe some from his hair
and slide my finger into his mouth
kissing him
sharing this moment
splashing our splash
whispering
we did it
we lived freedom
and now you tasted it too
he gasps
licking ash from my neck
it tastes terrible
but i can’t stop
smiling i say
you never can
and never do