For Jess.

I am sure we kissed once 

Under the moon of some other sky 

(An October streetlight. Atlanta night.)

You were swallowed up whole by your demons;

The dark night. 

How did they come to you? 

What form did they take? 

Compelling, more than anything in this world.

Let my life be a prayer —

A swan song for joy, amazement

Compelling enough 

To wrap my arms around it all 

The smoke you left behind 

The beauty in your wake

Wind in the trees 

Sunlight pouring in around me 

from some other world.