Hills

Your frame became a gentle nest where I could rest my eyes,
a place to lay and let the country go careening by
Your fingers laced my locks and traced my hillsides
bodies curled about heavily swarmed with butterflies
I recall the day the way you said my name changed
One day we climbed the tallest hill to feel mighty and high
While winds they raced, locked in embrace, we closed our ardent eyes
Ravenous as kings, they nearly had us on our knees
but I swear right then I felt the world had melted at our feet
and all of California was our kingdom
the Golden Gate meant to placate the tyrants we'd become
and all of San Francisco's hearts would synchronize
one beat would quake the earth and make the skyline yours and mine
I recall the day that your brother laid
his face pressed to the grass so green
the wonders before him unseen
Fifty suns arose and fell until back home I came
and forced to face to what I'd gracelessly betrayed
A love I'd left alone in my abandoned bed to lay;
the butterflies all up and died with 'guilt' written on their graves
So, my love, I walk now upon eggshells
teetering like the lightest tree trunk trying not to be felled
So, my love, I bring to you the truth in offering
enlighten you with honesty and warn you tenderly
that I am made of bones as delicate as nature
and I am made of skin tough as an elephant's hide
and I made of two hearts, one that can beat faster
than the hummingbird's wing flies
but it must be fed, it must be excited
It must be pumped by a strong and eager palm
but every hand will inevitably tire
and then my fire's flames, they calm