I love
the way my mind dances with thoughts of you,
imagining the curve of your lips,
the slight smirk of your smile. My heart skips
to a faster beat, keeping time with your step.
We waltz around my old memories,
and you spin me through the scenes where it hurts
until I throw my head back and laugh. We fall
into rhythm and I find myself wanting
every part of you. I find myself wanting
to open you, touch you tenderly, rest
my head on your shoulder, stop
time as we sway in circles.

But sometimes I try to forget—
the feeling of your hand on the small of my back,
our feet and hearts and hands in one
motion.
I try to distract
my mind with other steps, other songs
because I don’t ever want to lose
the spark
when our hands first touch.
I try to hum in the shower, play the radio full blast,
drown in all the sounds that aren’t you
but I can’t.
Because when I close my eyes
you’re all I hear
and my body moves unconsciously,
beautifully distracted,
dancing
with the thought of you again.

Marisa Donnelly is a poet and author of the book, Somewhere on a Highway, available here.