another death poem (for my partner who died in 1992)

alive at this time, a mutating acceptance of death

death, in her satin black-and-white mask seeking
i felt her
a fanwind or her spider lips blushing my cheek
heat and cool, her pine sweet breath
and past my glance into darkness,
her bright eyes sleeping wide and awake,
taking in my glance and my darkness illuminate

trade me anything for a moment, i am dying by fractions

the umber morning ignites the softer parts of paradise

broad notes of the flaxen horn of gabriel
call me trippingly
there's my grave amid the bright stones
and her falling slips
know me there in snow or frail silk on a grey throne,
a stupefied virgin in a waxy veil
cataleptic and prone