'Talking Points [Love Poem]' by Dean Rader

    

   

• And the way the light crawls up the side of the sky at dawn;

• the room [the sky] when you open the curtains after a long morning in bed;

• the sun splashing on the sheets [a bowl of lightning];

• a flame: your face: the palms of Jesus in an El Greco painting;

• and the way the stars in their wool coats shine inward;

• the time I drew back your blouse [&] [kissed the light of your skin]

• the light crashing down your spine;

• the light curving [off] the curve of your hip;

• the light from the _____, the light in your mouth;

• the light on your body that says [this way]

(from his book Works and Days, Truman State University Press, 2011)

Three poems from Works and Days are nominated for Pushcart Prizes.