you could ask for a slow spin on the axis
as the sun sets on your time together
a wide twirl of your skirt while the shadows creep in
and fall across his face like a wayward lock of hair
fingertips lingering until they fade one drop at a time
gently so gently into complete darkness
but it’s usually a hard stop
that marks the end of things
time is suddenly called in one mind
while the other keeps skating circles
and if you can’t stop the world on its axis
gently so gently you stop yourself from spinning.
JULIE ANN STEVENS 