7. The Sleep of Lovers

I lie besides you

listening to your even breathing,

as you sleep

the lampshade illuminates one

half of your beautiful face

leaving the other half in silhouette.

 

My heart constricts

out of sheer intense love I feel for you.

My breath catches in my throat.

I cannot take my eyes of you.

After all these years

you still have this effect on me.

 

I want to reach over and caress you,

kiss those slightly parted lips,

embrace you in my arms.

I hesitate…for fear of waking you.

Subconsciously, you feel my intense gaze.

Your sleepy expressive eyes open

ever so slightly and focus on me.

You smile and my heart lurches again

in total love and adoration for you.

 

I switch the lampshade off

and we sleep in embrace,

the blissful sleep of lovers in a cocoon of love.

Anwar Suleman