Coal Oil Point No. 10

We begin in the afternoon
blind with it
our first try at it
and the sun
always the sun.

Toward evening 
I look at my hands
I look at you
asleep across the room.
Your breathing is slow and even
the air here
strong and wet as
seawind
or peeled fruit 
around you.

It stays this way until late 
the room
the light.
At nightfall
I sit at the window naked
and the wind rises.

William Timberman