i dreamt i made you coffee

in the early morning hours when the light is more

light-grey than yellow

you slip out onto the balcony

like a cat to his water dish

and your fingers slide that cigarette tin

out of your terrycloth pocket

or maybe you’re naked

completely unclothed

but you’re there

and yes, now you’re smoking

in the mid afternoon you lie

in the coolness of white sheets

and your back is brown and smells like beer, sweat

it smells like honey

and you’re just stopping by

or maybe you live with me

either way

yes, you’re sleeping next to me

in the deep purple of midnight

fingers of twilight pulling

you down towards my feet

fingers on my leg

softly, chaste and

you kiss my skin like

you’re the pope and i’m a pauper

or you’re just a boy

at his fleshly altar

i dreamt i made you coffee

and overpoured the sugar

that one time i called you weak for not drinking it black

you looked at me and said

well, we can’t all be as tough as you

but i’m past strong now

i’ve become something malleable and

breakable in your hands

i dreamt that

you lifted the cup to your nose

you smelled it

you told me it

smells so good