a breath and a sigh

magic never mattered much

spells and incantations are

punchlines pounding air

barely worth a chuckle and

lately most of life stacks

a natural order and predictable

placid piecemeal wave

but

a breath and a sigh ago

in the warm night air

somewhere between the pause

of the sunset and

the promise of dawn

you touched me gently

recklessly upsetting all mystery

a promise no proper landing

dancing between knowing and 

hiding in a never-land of 

grins and giggles

shakes and surprises

dreams and desire

say,

maybe there is magic after all.

douglas brent smith